RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is the first application filed for this invention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to apparatus for serving food and catching food spillage and, in particular, to an asphyxiation-safe adjustable bib and placemat combination particularly useful for feeding babies and elderly people.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many different placemats for feeding babies and/or the elderly or physically challenged are commercially available. Placemats of this type may be a plain placemat or a placemat with an integral food dish. Both types are typically molded from a silicone rubber formulation or the like to eliminate breakage and promote adhesion to a smooth flat surface. The silicone material tends to cling to smooth surfaces, which makes it difficult for a wearer to pick up the placemat or push it off a table or high-chair tray.
Many different bibs designed to catch and retain food spillage are also known and commercially available, some of which connect directly or indirectly to a tray, placemat or dish of some sort. However, there is no known bib and placemat combination that provides a convenient system that is useful over an extended time, is easy to clean, clings to a flat surface and securely connects the bib to the placemat to contain food spillage while ensuring that the bib will readily detach from the placemat if a user slips from a chair while wearing the bib. There therefore exists a need for a bib with a placemat that meets each of these criteria.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide versatile and useful asphyxiation-safe adjustable bib with a placemat.
The invention therefore provides an asphyxiation-safe adjustable bib with placemat, comprising in combination: a placemat having a front bib securement structure and a rear bib securement structure on opposite sides of a bib retainer channel; and a bib having a bib retainer removably affixed to a rear surface thereof, the bib retainer being adapted to be received and retained, along with a portion of the bib adjacent the bib retainer, in the bib retainer channel and to resist movement of the bib to dislodge the bib and the bib retainer from the bib retainer channel.
The invention further provides an asphyxiation-safe adjustable bib with placemat, comprising in combination: a placemat having a flat top surface with a peripheral rim, a front bib securement structure spaced from the peripheral rim and a rear bib securement structure integral with the peripheral rim, and a bib retainer channel between the front bib securement structure and the rear bib securement structure; and a bib having a bib retainer with a rigid central core removably affixed in one of a plurality of parallel positions on a rear surface thereof, the bib retainer being adapted to be received and retained, along with a portion of the bib adjacent the bib retainer, in the bib retainer channel and to resist movement of the bib to dislodge the portion of the bib and the bib retainer from the bib retainer channel, but yield to forceful movement of the bib to release the bib and the bib retainer from the bib retainer channel.
The invention yet further provides an asphyxiation-safe adjustable bib with placemat, comprising in combination: a placemat having a flat top surface with a peripheral rim, a front bib securement structure spaced from the peripheral rim and a rear bib securement structure integral with the peripheral rim and a bib retainer channel between the front bib securement structure and the rear bib securement structure; and a bib having a bib retainer with a rigid central core removably affixed in one of a plurality of parallel locations on a rear surface thereof to permit a length of the bib to be adjusted to accommodate a height of a bib wearer, the bib retainer being adapted to be received, along with a portion of the bib adjacent the bib retainer, in the bib retainer channel and to resist movement of the bib to dislodge the bib and the bib retainer from the bib retainer channel, but yield to forceful movement of the bib to release the bib and the bib retainer from the bib retainer channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an orthographic view of one embodiment of an asphyxiation-safe adjustable bib with one embodiment of a placemat in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2A is a front elevational view of the bib shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2B is a rear elevational view of one embodiment of the bib shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the bib for the asphyxiation-safe adjustable bib and placemat in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 4A is a top plan view of one embodiment of a bib retainer shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4B is a side elevational view of the bib retainer shown in FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5A is a top plan elevational view of another embodiment of a bib retainer in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 5B is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a bib for use with the bib retainer shown in FIG. 5A;
FIG. 5C is a side elevational view of further embodiment of a bib retainer in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 5D is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a bib for use with the bib retainer shown in FIG. 5C;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a baby using the asphyxiation-safe adjustable bibs with placemat shown in FIGS. 1-5D;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the asphyxiation-safe adjustable bib and placemat taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6, illustrating how one embodiment of the bib is secured to the placemat;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the asphyxiation-safe adjustable bib and placemat taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6, illustrating an alternate embodiment for securement of the bib to the placemat in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the placemat shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of the placemat shown in FIG. 9, taken along lines A-A of FIG. 9;
FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along lines B-B of FIG. 9;
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a placemat with an integral food receptacle in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a placemat in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of a placemat in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention provides a bib and placemat useful for feeding an infant and any other person who lacks the coordination required to reliably deliver food from a serving receptacle to their mouth. The placemat may include an integral serving dish, for example a bowl. In one embodiment the placemat is molded from a pliable food-grade material, such as food-grade silicon rubber formulation. One side of the placemat includes a bib retainer channel adapted to receive and retain a bib retainer secured in one of a plurality of spaced-apart locations on a backside of the bib. In one embodiment the bib retainer is received in one of a plurality of parallel pockets provided on a rear side of the bib. In another embodiment the bib retainer is connected to one pair of a plurality of pairs of connectors provided on the rear side of the bib. The bib retainer channel is designed to secure the bib against normal movement of the bib in any direction away from the placemat. This is achieved by providing flexible ends on each side of a bib retainer. The bib retainer releases from the bib retainer channel if a wearer pulls the bib with significant force in any direction away from the placement, such as the force applied to the bib if a wearer slips from a chair or the like.
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Part No.
Part Description
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10
Bib with bib retainer and placemat
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12a-d
Bib embodiments
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12f
Bib front side
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12r
Bib rear side
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14a-c
Bib retainer embodiments
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16a-d
Placemat embodiments
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18
Bib retainer channel
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20
Placemat flat top surface
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22
Bib neck strap
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24a
Bib neck strap connector end
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24b
Bib neck strap connector part
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24c
Bib neck strap connector second part
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26
Bib retainer rigid core
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28a, 28b
Bib retainer flexible ends
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30
Bib retainer pockets
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32
Bib garment sleeves
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36, 36
Bib retainer hook and loop fastener ends
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38
Bib retainer perimeter
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40
Bib hook and loop fastener attachments
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44
Bib attachment snap fastener halves
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46
Bib snap fastener halves
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48
Table
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50
Front bib securement structure
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52
Rear bib securement structure
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54
Placemat food receptacle
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56a, 56b
Placemat suction buttons
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58a, 58b
Placemat suction cups
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60
Placemat rim
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62
Bib retainer magnet
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FIG. 1 is an orthographic view of a bib and bib retainer with placemat 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The bib and bib retainer with placemat 10 includes a bib 12a having a front surface 12f, a bib retainer 14a and a placemat 16a having a bib retainer channel 18. The bib retainer 14a is releasably connected to a rear surface of the bib 12a, as will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 2B, 5B and 5D. The bib retainer channel 18 receives the bib retainer 14a and a portion of the bib 12a adjacent the bib retainer 14a to releasably connect the bib 12a to the placemat 16a, as will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
FIG. 2A is a front elevational view of the bib 12a shown in FIG. 1. The bib 12a has and a neck strap 22. The neck strap 22 has a connector end 24a with a neck strap connector part 24b (see FIG. 2B) that connects to a neck strap second connector part 24c. In this embodiment the neck strap connector part 24b and the neck strap second connector part 24c are hook and loop fastener components. However, the neck strap connector parts 24b, 24c may be snap fastener pairs, a hook and eye pair, a magnetic pair, or any other convenient attachment system.
FIG. 2B is rear elevational view of the bib 12a shown in FIG. 1. The bib 12a has a rear surface 12r with a plurality of parallel bib retainer pockets 30. Each bib retainer pocket 30 is adapted to receive and retain the bib retainer 14a for releasably connecting the bib 12a to the placemat 16a. The bib retainer 14a fits snugly within each bib retainer pocket 30 so it does not readily fall out but the bib retainer 14a can be removed when it is desirable to relocate it to a different bib retainer pocket 30. The bib retainer 14a may be moved from one bib retainer pocket 30 to another bib retainer pocket 30 to adjust a length of the bib 12a above the placemat 16a to accommodate a height of a wearer, as will be explained below in more detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In one embodiment, the bib retainer 14a is molded from a flexible material, such as a silicone rubber formulation and has a bib retainer rigid core 26 (polyethylene in one embodiment or magnetic material in another embodiment, by way of example only) to lend rigidity to the central part of the bib retainer 14a, while permitting the respective ends 28a and 28b to flex. The flexible ends 28a, 28b permit a wearer of the bib 12a more freedom of movement without disconnecting the bib 12a from the placemat 16a.
FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the bib 12b for the bib with bib retainer and placemat 10 in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the bib 12b includes bib garment sleeves 32 that cover the arms of a wearer to protect the wearer's arms from food spillage.
FIG. 4A is top plan view of the bib retainer 14a shown in FIG. 1. As explained above, in one embodiment the bib retainer is molded from a resilient, flexible material such as a silicone rubber formulation. In one embodiment the bib retainer rigid core 26 is obround in plan and side elevational views. The bib retainer rigid core 26 makes the central part of the bib retainer 14a stiff and resistant to bending. In one embodiment, the flexibility of the opposed flexible ends 28a, and 28b is enhanced by a narrowing in width and thickness (see FIG. 4B) of the bib retainer 14a at opposite ends of the bib retainer rigid core 26.
FIG. 4B is side elevational view of the bib retainer 14a shown in FIG. 4A. As can be seen, in one embodiment the bib retainer 14a is wider than it is thick, so that it is obround in cross-section, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8.
FIG. 5A is rear elevational view of another embodiment of a bib retainer 14b in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the bib retainer 14b has a bib retainer rigid core 26 encased in an envelope of a durable fabric or molded plastic with a stitched or molded perimeter 38. Affixed to opposed ends of the bib retainer 14b are hook or loop fastener ends 36.
FIG. 5B is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a bib 12c for use with the bib retainer 14b shown in FIG. 5A. In this embodiment the bib 12c has a plurality of pairs of hook or loop fastener attachment pairs 40 compatible with the respective hook or loop fastener ends 36 on the bib retainer 14b.
FIG. 5C is rear elevational view of a further embodiment of a bib retainer 14c in accordance with the invention. The bib retainer 14c is similar to the bib retainer 14b described above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B except that the opposed ends are provided with snap fastener halves 44, well known in the art.
FIG. 5D is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of a bib 12d for use with the bib retainer 14c shown in FIG. 5C. A rear surface 12r of the bib 12d is provided with a plurality of pairs of compatible bib snap fastener halves 46 for attaching the bib retainer 14c to the bib 12d. The bib retainer snap fastener halves 44 may be male or female snap fastener halves, and the bib snap fastener halves 46 are compatible with the bib retainer snap fastener halves 44.
FIG. 6 a perspective view of a baby wearing the bib 12a-12d with placemat 16a. The bib 12a-12d is releasably connected to the placemat 16a, which is supported on a flat surface such as a table 48. In one embodiment, the placemat 16a has suction cups that secure it to the table 48, as will be explained below with reference to FIG. 9B.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the bib with bib retainer and placemat 10 taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6, illustrating how the bibs 12a-12d are secured to the placemat 16a. Although bib 12a is illustrated, each bib 12a-12d is used and functions in a similar way. In this embodiment, the placemat 16a is provided with a front bib securement structure 50 and a rear bib securement structure 52 on opposite sides of the bib retainer channel 18. The bib retainer channel 18 receives the portion of the bib 12a-12d adjacent the bib retainer 14a-14c. As explained above, the bib retainer 14a-14c is in a selected position on the rear surface 12r of the bibs 12a-12d. For bibs 12a and 12b, the bib retainer 14a is inserted into a selected bib retainer pocket 30. For bibs 12c and 12d the bib retainer 14b and 14c are respectively connected to a connector pair on the rear surface 12r of the bibs 12c and 12d. As explained above, the position for the bib retainer 14a-14c on the rear surface 12r is selected to adjust a length of the bib 12a-12d above the placemat 16a to suit a height of a wearer. To connect the bib 12a-12d to the placemat 16a, the bib retainer 14a-14c and the portion of the bib 12a-12d adjacent the bib retainer 14a-14c are manually pressed downwardly into the bib retainer channel 18. When the bib retainer 14a-14c has been fully pressed into the bib retainer channel 18, the respective bib securement structures 50, 52 overhang top edges of the bib retainers 14a-14c at the bib retainer rigid core 26. The bib securement structures 50, 52 resist pull on the bib 12a-12d in any direction, so a wearer of the bib 12a-12d cannot readily detach the bib 12a-12d from the placemat 16a. However, if the wearer slides or falls from their seat and the bib 12a-12d is thus forcefully pulled away from the placemat 16a, the flexible rear bib securement structure 52 collapses rearwardly without undue resistance and releases the bib 12a-12d and the bib retainer 14a-c from the bib retainer channel 18, to obviate any possibility of injury due to asphyxiation.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bib with bib retainer and placemat 10 shown in FIG. 4, illustrating how the bib 12a-12d, is secured to another embodiment of the placemat 16a. In this embodiment, the placemat 16a is provided with a front bib securement structure 50 and a rear bib securement structure 52 on opposite sides of the bib retainer channel 18, but the bib retainer rigid core 26 of bib retainers 14a-14c is magnetic or contains embedded magnetic material having a magnetic pole(s) oriented to be strongly attracted to a bib retainer magnet(s) 62 embedded in the placemat 16a under the bib retainer channel 18. The magnetic attraction between the magnetic bib retainer 14a-14c and the bib retainer magnet(s) 62 resists pull on the bib 12a-12d in any direction, so a wearer cannot readily detach the bib 12a-12d from the placemat 16a. However, if the wearer slides or falls from a seat upon which the wearer is seated and the bib 12a-12d is pulled forcefully away from the placemat 16a, the leverage of the bib 12a-12d over the rear bib securement structure 52 tips the bib retainer 14a-14c on edge, which releases the bib 12a-12d and the bib retainer 14a-14c from the bib retainer channel 18 to obviate any possibility of injury due to asphyxiation.
FIG. 9 is top plan view of the placemat 16a with an integral food receptacle 54 in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment the food receptacle 54 is a bowl. The placemat 16a has a flat top surface 20 with an upstanding peripheral placemat rim 60 to retain any spillage from the food receptacle 54. In this embodiment, the front bib securement structure 50 is integral with a rear side of the food receptacle 54 and the rear bib securement structure is integral with the placemat rim 60. Located on opposite ends of the bib retainer channel 18 are respective “placemat suction buttons” 56a, 56b used to actuate placemat suction cups 58a, 58b (see FIG. 7B) that are optionally provided to further secure the placemat 16a to a smooth, flat surface such as the table 48.
FIG. 9A is cross-sectional view of the placemat 16a taken along lines A-A of FIG. 9, illustrating the integration of the food receptacle 54 with the bottom of the placemat 16a and the integration of the front bib securement structure 50 with the rear side of the food receptacle 54.
FIG. 9B is cross-sectional view of the placemat 16a taken along lines B-B of FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the placemat 16a is provided with two optional placemat suction cups 58a, 58b located at opposed ends of the bib retainer channel 18. As described above, the respective placemat suction cups 58a, 58b are actuated by pressing of the respective placemat suction buttons 56a, 56b.
FIG. 10 is top plan view of another embodiment of a placemat 16b with an integral food receptacle 54 in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the food receptacle is substantially oval and optionally partitioned into a plurality of food receptacle compartments. In other aspects, the placemat 16b is similar to the placemat 16a described above.
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of a placemat 16c in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the placemat 16c has a flat top surface 20 without a food receptacle. In all other respects, the placemat 16c is similar to the placemat 16a described above with reference to FIGS. 7-9B.
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of yet a further embodiment of a placemat 16d in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment, the placemat 16d has a flat top surface 20, is substantially square and has no food receptacle. However, the placemat 16d may be provided with an integral food receptacle, such as the food receptacles shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, for example. In all other aspects, the placemat 16d is similar to the placemat 16a described above with reference to FIGS. 7-9B.
Although the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, the description and the embodiments shown are exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Grant
11547154
