Patent Application
20240358093
The present invention relates generally to bibs and, more particularly, to bibs for protecting individuals using the bibs from solids and liquids which may be dropped during drinking and/or eating.
Bibs have been used for a very long time to protect the wearer's body/clothing when eating and/or drinking. Bibs come in many different forms, shapes, and sizes and they generally are snapped, buttoned, fastened, or tied around the wearer's neck so that the bib hangs flat on the wearer's chest. Bibs also come in a cloth or waterproof/water resistant type of fabric that protects a certain portion of the wearer's clothing from getting wet or stained. Many different shapes also exist some of the more popular shapes include a pocket or pouch attached at the base of the bib to help capture/collect food pieces that are dropped from a wearer's utensil/hand/mouth.
Some common problems exist with these currently available bibs. Having a pouch at the base of the bib is meant to protect the wearer's lap from getting messy from the dropped food particles, but food doesn't always drop into the pouch as the pouch extends out only a minimal amount and doesn't always stay open. Since the wearer is generally an unskilled eater, food generally gets dropped from a utensil before it even reaches the wearer's mouth, causing the food to completely miss the pouch. Messes are inevitable in these circumstances, as the food bits will land on the wearer's clothing, in their lap, and/or on the floor underneath them staining whatever it contacts. Another issue is the bib's length most bibs currently available only drop down to the wearer's upper to mid torso, which can pose problems when the wearer is seated at a table and/or highchair because the tray or table could push against the pouch at the base of the bib causing the pouch to close. These bibs also are not wide enough at the base to capture/collect food pieces that are dropped on either side of the bib causing the food to be dropped on the sides of the bib also staining the wearer's clothing or furniture underneath.
Another issue with these existing bibs is the width of the bib at the chest—most bibs currently available are too wide, causing the bib to buckle around the neck and chest area if it's not the appropriate size for the wearer when the wearer is putting their hands closer together or trying to bring food to their mouth. If the bib buckles, then it's not only uncomfortable for the wearer but it also lacks the effectiveness of preventing food/liquids from getting onto the chest and clothing underneath the bib because the buckling creates a gap between the neck and the bib. These bibs are also very uncomfortable in the neck area because the bib, which is typically made out of rough material, is in direct contact with the wearer's neck causing irritation.
Yet another issue with these existing bibs is cleanup when eating is done—(1) it's uncomfortable to bring the wearer all the way to the sink to get them cleaned up because either the bib is too dirty (causing food particles to spill/drop out of it) or bulky, or the wearer can't properly be cleaned in the neck area because the bib acts as a barrier, and (2) if the bib is removed upon cleanup, then the clothing underneath could get messy because there is nothing to protect it when wiping down or washing up the wearer's face and neck area.
Despite efforts to date to create a bib that helps capture food and the like with a pouch, a great need continues to exist for improved bib products that much more effectively capture dropped food and the like.
The present invention provides bibs for protecting individuals using the bibs from solids and liquids, which may be dropped during drinking and/or eating.
In first aspect, a bib according to the present invention comprises a main body having a front surface, first connecting means provided at an upper end of the main body for removably connecting the bib around a user's neck, and a pouch provided at a lower end of the main body contiguous with the front surface for collecting solids and/or liquids dropped by the user during use of the bib. The pouch includes second connecting means for removably connecting the pouch to a connecting surface during use of the bib. The bib further comprises means for facilitating attachment of the pouch to the connecting surface by the second connecting means during use of the bib by allowing the pouch to extend out and be maintained open and in a proper orientation for collecting dropped solids and/or liquids.
As an example of the first aspect, the pouch is in the form of a trough-shaped structure including front, rear, bottom, and side sections.
In one embodiment of the first aspect, the means for facilitating attachment comprises a folding portion formed by an upper end portion of the front section of the pouch and a pair of slits formed at respective intersections between the front section and the side sections of the pouch to enable the folding portion to be bent or folded along a folding line in a direction of the connecting surface. The second connecting means is provided on the folding portion of the pouch.
In another embodiment of the first aspect, the means for facilitating attachment comprises each of the side sections of the pouch being provided with a pleated structure configured to facilitate movement of the front section of the pouch in the direction of the connecting surface for removably attaching the second connecting means to the connecting surface. The second connecting means is provided on the front section of the pouch.
In yet another embodiment of the first aspect, the means for facilitating attachment comprises: a folding portion formed by an upper end portion of the front section of the pouch and a pair of slits formed at respective intersections between the front section and the side sections of the pouch to enable the folding portion to be bent or folded along a folding line in a direction of the connecting surface; and each of the side sections of the pouch being provided with a pleated structure configured to facilitate movement of the front section of the pouch in the direction of the connecting surface for removably attaching the second connecting means to the connecting surface. The second connecting means is provided on the folding portion of the pouch.
In the foregoing embodiments of the first aspect, the second connecting means may comprise at least one suction cup. The bib may be formed as a one-piece, unitary structure made of a single piece of material, such as silicone.
In a second aspect, a bib according to the present invention comprises a main body having a main surface and provided with connection straps including connecting means for connecting the straps together to secure the bib around a user's neck. The connection straps have inner edges forming a neck receiving aperture shaped to fit the user's neck when the straps are connected together. The bib includes an extension section connected to and extending from the inner edges of the connection straps, the extension section being configured to overlap at least a portion of the main surface of the main body during use of the bib.
In the second aspect, the extension section may be connected to the inner edges of the connection straps by at least one of sewing, glue, and fusible bonding. The main body and extension section may be made of a fabric material.
In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a bib structure formed by the combination of a first bib according to any of the embodiments of the first aspect and a second bib according to the second aspect. The extension section of the second bib is configured to overlap at least a portion of the front surface of the main body of the first bib during use of the bib structure. The first and second bibs are provided with connecting means for removably connecting the first and second bibs to one another.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The disclosure will provide details in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein:
In
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered limiting in any respect. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same elements.
Embodiments of the present invention provide bibs with an improved structure including a catch device for catching dropped food or beverage so that the wearer's body/clothing and the floor underneath them is protected in ways beyond the methods currently achieved by existing bibs.
The bibs according to the various embodiments of the present invention are primarily described herein for use by infants. It is understood, however, that the bibs of the present invention are also suitable for use by adults, such as elderly people, as well as by individuals with special needs of all ages.
Referring to
In this embodiment, first connecting means 16, 17 are in the form of male 16 and female 17 fasteners for removably connecting straps 14 to one another to form a neck receiving aperture 18 for securing bib 10 around the neck of the infant. When connected together using first connecting means 16, 17, straps 14 (and corresponding aperture 18) are configured to fit around the user's neck during use of bib 10. Other types of fasteners may be selected for first connecting means 16, 17 without departing from the scope of the present invention, including hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, and other suitable attachment means.
Front section 20 of pouch 13 includes an upper end portion 21. According to a feature of the embodiment of the present invention shown in
In an example of the present embodiment, second connecting means 28 comprise suction cups. However, other attachment devices may be used, such as hook and loop fasteners or other similar types of fastening device known in the art for easy attachment and detachment of pouch 13 to the surface during use of bib 10. Although
According to the present invention, during use of pouch 13, slits 25 permit folding portion 21 to be readily folded towards the connecting surface (e.g., highchair tray or table) to facilitate attachment of suctions cups 28 to the connecting surface. This can be advantageously achieved without the generation of an unwanted pull on pouch 13, and bib 10 in general, when suction cups 28 are attached to the connecting surface, thereby preventing discomfort to the infant wearing bib 10. When suction cups 28 are attached to the connecting surface, folding portion 21 and slits 25 also permit pouch 13 to be maintained open and in a proper orientation relative to main body 12 and the connecting surface so that solids and/or liquids dropped by the infant during use of bib 10 can be effectively caught and retained by pouch 13 during use of bib 10. As such, folding portion 21 and slits 25 of pouch 13 constitute means for facilitating attachment of pouch 13 to a connecting surface during use of bib 10 without generating discomfort on a user of bib 10 by allowing pouch 13 to extend out and be maintained open and in a proper orientation during use of bib 10 for collecting solids and/or liquids which may be dropped by the user.
In the present embodiment, bib 10, including main body 12 and pouch 13, is an integral, one-piece, unitary structure made of a single piece of material. In one example of the present embodiment, bib 10 can be made of a flexible material, such as silicone. Alternatively, bib 10 can be made of a rigid or substantially rigid material, such as a rigid molded plastic material. In an alternative embodiment, main body 12 and pouch 13 can be formed as separate structures (i.e., two different pieces) which can be connected together using suitable connecting means to form an integrated structure.
In the embodiment of
By the foregoing construction, bib 10 is particularly designed so that pouch 13 effectively captures/collects liquid and/or food pieces that are dropped from a wearer's utensil/hand/mouth, thereby protecting the wearer's clothing and body from getting messy. Specifically, when pouch 13 is mounted to a surface (e.g., highchair or table) using connecting means 28 as described above, folding portion 21 and corresponding slits 25 allow pouch 13 to sufficiently extend out and always stay open, without compromising the required collecting position for pouch 13, so that dropped liquids, food particles and the like can be effectively captured by pouch 13.
Bib 10, including pouch 13 and corresponding construction, significantly reduces the likelihood of liquids, food particles and the like falling onto the infant's body and clothing as well as the floor. Pouch 13 also provides an extended eating area that keeps food within the infant's eating proximity. This promotes better eating habits for the infant.
In bib 10 described above with reference to
By the foregoing construction, bib 100 is particularly designed so that pouch 13 effectively captures/collects liquid and/or food pieces that are dropped from a wearer's utensil/hand/mouth, thereby protecting the wearer's clothing and body from getting messy. Specifically, when pouch 13 is mounted to a surface (e.g., highchair or table) using connecting means 28 as described above, pleated structure 30 allows pouch 13 to sufficiently extend out and always stay open, without compromising the required collecting position for pouch 13, so that dropped liquids, food pieces and the like can be effectively captured by pouch 13.
Bib 200 in
Bib 400 includes an apron-like member or main body 410, connection straps 412 having inner edges 413, and a neck receiving aperture 414 formed by inner edges 413 of straps 412 when connected together as shown in
According to a feature of the present invention, bib 400 includes a bib extension section 420 connected to and extending from inner edges 413 of straps 412. Extension section 420 is configured to extend over or overlap at least a portion of the surface of main body 410 to provide additional protection to the baby from being soiled while eating and/or drinking. Bib 400 and extension section 420 may be made of any suitable fabric material, such as cotton. Bib 400 can also be made of a waterproof/water resistant type of fabric that protects the infant's clothing from getting wet or stained. Extension section 420 can be connected to inner edges 413 of straps 412 by at least one of sewing, glue, and fusible bonding, for example. The length of extension section 420 and corresponding degree of extension along the surface of main body 410 can be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention.
According to the present invention, bib 400 can be used alone or in combination with any of bibs 10, 100, 200 described above with reference to
The only difference between bib 300 shown in
Bibs 300 and 400 can be readily connected or assembled together as shown in
Bib structure 500 can be assembled before or after it is mounted on an infant. For example, bibs 300 and 400 can be first connected together using connecting means 310 and 422 as described above and, while connected to one another, each of bib 300 and bib 400 can be selectively fastened or tied around the infant's neck using the corresponding connecting means 16, 17 for bib 300 and connecting means 416, 418 for bib 400. In this case, prior to fastening or tying bib 400 around the infant's neck, main body 410 is positioned to overlap at least a portion of rear surface 19 of bib 300 while extension section 420 of bib 400 is passed through aperture 18 of bib 300 and positioned to extend over and overlap at least a portion of front surface 15 of bib 300. Alternatively, bib 400 can be first fastened or tied around the infant's neck using connecting means 416, 418. Thereafter, bib 300 is fastened or tied around the infant's neck using connecting means 16, 17 and over bib 400 so that main body 410 of bib 400 overlaps at least a portion of rear surface 19 of bib 300. Extension section 420 of bib 400 is then passed through aperture 18 of bib 300 and positioned to overlap at least a portion of front surface 15 of bib 300. Bibs 300 and 400 are then removably connected together using corresponding connecting means 310, 422.
Bib structure 500 provides additional benefits which further enhance the benefits provided by the bibs described above with reference to
The embodiments of bibs 10, 100, 200, 300, 400 and bib structure 500 described herein with reference to the drawings overcome the drawbacks of currently available bibs, including those described in the Background Information section of the present application, as noted below.
First, during use of the bibs and bib structure according to the embodiments of the present invention, pouch 13 will always stay open because it extends out just far enough for food to land inside pouch 13 without it buckling in and without it extending out too far so that food falls out of it. Connecting means 28 provided at front portion 20 of pouch 13 creates another layer that helps to keep the pouch open without it buckling in because it can be connected to a table or tray. In
Second, when base 24 of bib 13 is configured to be longer than a table or tray with which the bib is being used, the table or tray will not push against front portion 20 and folding portion 21 of pouch 13 so as to close pouch 13 and cause food to drop on the wearer's lap. Together with connecting means 28 as well as pleaded structure 30, the longer length of base 24 will help avoid messes that occur from the bib's constant closure when it's pushed against a table or tray. This present invention will eliminate that currently existing hassle.
Third, base 24 of pouch 13 can be configured to be wider than bibs currently available in the market so that pouch 13 is wide enough to cover the wearer's lap. This will effectively prevent food and liquids from accidentally dropping out of pouch 13. The wider width of pouch 13 coupled with the longer length of base 24, connecting means 28, and pleaded structure 30 as described above create a unified embodiment that is bullet proof when it comes to avoiding messes. It is an invention that solves every issue that currently exists with current bibs.
Moreover, main body 12, including front surface 15, of the bibs and bib structure according to the present invention are configured to fit the wearer just right at the chest—it is not too wide, which, as a result, doesn't buckle at aperture 18 (e.g., neck) when worn by the wearer. This helps with comfort, and comfort is crucial for the wearer especially when first learning how to properly eat. If left uncomfortable, the wearer gets annoyed and stops eating all together in most cases which in turn frustrates the caregiver as well as the wearer. Also, because there is no buckling, food doesn't end up on the user's chest/neck area and clothing underneath staining everything it contacts. Furthermore, because the fit is good, the user's neck area will not get irritated because of the constant buckling and moving when the wearer is eating.
The bib structure 500, including bibs 300 and 400, according to the present invention also solves many of the problems described above with currently existing bibs, including the issue relating to cleanup when eating is done. According to the present invention, after eating is done bib 300 can be removed when the wearer is seated at the table, leaving the bib 400 on the wearer's neck. In a preferred embodiment, bib 400 is made of a soft fabric material and has a non-bulky construction so that it doesn't irritate the wearer's neck. Extension section 420 of bib 400 also serves as a barrier so food/liquids cannot access the user's neck area because extension section 420 is configured to fold over front surface 15 of big 300 when bib structure 500 is worn by the wearer. When the wearer is being wiped down or washed up at the sink, the wearer's clothing won't get dirty even if the bib 300 is removed because bib 400 protects the wearer's clothing, unlike traditional bibs—once removed, the clothing is exposed, which defeats the whole purpose of a bib because even if the wearer made it through the whole meal without staining their clothing, the cleanup will inevitably cause the mess.
The embodiments of
It will be appreciated that the bibs according to the embodiments described above for
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present invention, as well as other variations thereof, means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment”, as well any other variations, appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. However, it is to be appreciated that features of one or more embodiments can be combined given the teachings of the present invention provided herein.
The foregoing is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the present invention and that those skilled in the art may implement various modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Those skilled in the art could implement various other feature combinations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Having thus described aspects of the invention, with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/461,715, filed Apr. 25, 2023.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63461715 | Apr 2023 | US |
