Chainless Bib

Abstract

A chainless dental bib is herein disclosed that may include a non-permeable sheet, a neck strap with an adjustable length, and at least one end of the strap permanently attached to the sheet. One end of the neck strap may be permanently attached to the non-permeable sheet while the other end of the neck strap may be free-floating. A plurality of perforated, detachable portions may be included on the free-floating end of the neck strap allowing a user to manually detach any number of detachable portions and determine the neck strap length. The free-floating end may then be bonded to the non-permeable sheet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of bibs. More particularly, the present invention relates to dental bibs that eliminate the use of a chain to retain the bib about a wearer's neck.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Bibs are commonly used in dental offices to prevent body fluids or other particles from soiling a person's clothing. Oftentimes, a chain is used with clips on each end of the chain. The chain is passed around the neck of the patient and clipped to the bib, securing the bib over the chest of the patient. Because of health and safety regulations, the chain must be sterilized or disposed of after each use.

Also, as each patient has unique physical qualities, a single length of chain will not fit all individuals. Patient rooms must therefore be equipped with a plurality of different-sized chains. Selecting the appropriate chain for the patient can also be time-consuming.

What is therefore needed is a dental bib that eliminates the need for a chain. What is additionally needed is an improved way to adjust the sizing of the bib to accommodate differently-sized patients.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

By way of summary, the present invention is directed to a chainless dental bib that may include a non-permeable sheet, a neck strap with a length and a first end permanently attached to the sheet, and an adjustment means configured to allow adjustability to the length of the neck strap.

The present invention includes a chainless bib as well as a method of assembling a chainless bib. The bib may be formed out of a non-permeable sheet with a neck strap having a length. At least one end of the neck strap may be free-floating and include a plurality of detachable portions. Each detachable portion may include a perforation allowing manual detachment of at least one of the detachable portions. A user may determine _the length of the neck strap by removing any number of the perforated detachable portions. An adhesive may be included on one side of the detachable portions allowing the user to join the free-floating end to the non-permeable sheet, thus completing the bib.

The method of assembling the chainless bib may include providing a non-permeable sheet and permanently attaching a first end of a neck strap to the non-permeable sheet, the neck strap having a second, free-floating end with a plurality of detachable portions. In order to determine the length of the neck strap, a user may detach any number of the detachable portions along a perforated. The user may then bond at least one of the remaining detachable portions of the neck strap to the non-permeable sheet.

Prior to bonding the free-floating end of the neck strap to the non-permeable sheet, a user may elect to pass the free-floating end of the neck strap around a person's neck and subsequently bond at least one of the detachable portions of the neck strap to the non-permeable sheet, thus preventing interference with hair. The bond between the detachable portions and the non-permeable sheet may be either permanent with an adhesive such as glue or temporary with an adhesive such as hook and loop fasteners. The first end of the neck strap may be permanently attached to the non-permeable sheet using at least one of a heat weld, a glue, and a mechanically tacked.

The neck strap may be formed of either an elastic material allowing it to stretch or out of a non-elastic material this is more rigid.

These and other aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A clear conception of the advantages and features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of typical mechanisms provided with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate the same elements in the several views, and in which

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a chainless bib according to one embodiment of the invention and

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a chinless bib according to another embodiment of the invention.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the words “connected”, “attached”, or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description.

Referring to FIG. 1, a chainless bib 10 is shown according to one embodiment of the invention. The bib 10 may be made of any material, but is preferably a non-permeable sheet 18 that prevents liquids and solids from coming into contact with a person wearing the bib 10. The non-permeable sheet 18 may also include a moisture-absorbent material on the exterior, such as tissue, bonded to the non-permeable sheet 18 on the interior. A strap 12 is provided for attachment around a user's neck, placing the bib 10 on the user's chest. On a first end 8 of the strap 12, a permanent attachment 16 joins the strap 12 to the bib 10. The permanent attachment 16 may include any means known, but is preferably glue, heat joined, or mechanically tacked. The opposite, second end 4 of the strap 12 may be provided with a plurality of detachable portions 14 with adhesive, each detachable portion 14 having an adhesive with a removable protecting cover. The user may selectively remove a protecting cover from any one of the detachable portions 14 to expose a desired location. The exposed adhesive may then be pressed against the bib 10 in a designated area joining the free-floating end of the strap 12 to the bib 10. A plurality of perforations 6 may also allow the user to selectively detach any one of the detachable portions 14, thus adjusting the length of the strap 12. This allows the user to not only determine the desired length of the strap 12, but also avoid interference with hair as the strap 12 may be passed around the neck before it is fastened to the bib 10. The bib 10 may also be configured for a wide range of neck sizes. Should a large adult be fitted with a bib 10, the user may choose to remove a protecting cover at the very end of the strap and join the exposed adhesive strip 14 to the bib 10, creating a long strap 12. If a small child is to be fitted with a bib 10, the user may remove a protecting cover toward a mid-portion of the strap and join the exposed detachable portions 14 to the bib 10, creating a shorter short strap 12.

In one embodiment, the detachable portions 14 and/or strap 12 have perforations 6 that allow any one of the detachable portions 14 be torn away to properly size the strap 12 for the wearer. In another embodiment, indicia may appear on the strip and/or strap to help size the strap, e.g., small, medium, and large. In another embodiment, there may be no perforations 6 and the user can just cut the strap 12 to the desired length and remove any amount of protective cover to expose adhesive and bond the second end 4 of the strap 12 to the non-permeable sheet 18.

The strap 12 may be made of any known material, but is preferably elastic in nature. The elasticity allows for the strap 12 to stretch to a greater length and return to its original size after tension is removed. Alternatively, the strap 12 may be stretched in an inelastic manner, allowing it to permanently retain its stretched length.

Transitioning to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of a chainless bib 20 is shown. In this embodiment, both ends 24 of the strap 22 are permanently attached to the non-permeable sheet 18 of the bib 20. The strap 22 is preferably made of a stretch material that may be stretched in either an inelastic or elastic manner, as described above. The bib material is also preferably the same as described with respect to FIG. 1.

The chainless bib 10, 22 in either of the embodiments may also include embossment 26, shown in FIG. 2, in any desired pattern. While a partial embossment 26 is shown in a waffle pattern, the embossment may be done throughout the entire non-permeable sheet 18 and may also include any number of shapes/patterns such as diamond, circle, or a logo. The embossment adds water absorbency to a tissue layer and also helps contain loose particles that may fall during a dental procedure. In addition to embossment 26, patterns such as cartoon characters or advertisement may be printed on any portion of the bibs 10, 20. The patterns may be selectively chosen for a particular age range such as popular cartoons for children. Any number of colors may also be used for the bibs 10, 20.

Additionally, the bibs 10, 20 may be offered in a multitude of price points such as ordinary use with a two-ply tissue and a poly-backing for fluid impermeability, and heavy duty use with three ply tissue and multiple poly layers for added durability.

Although the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. it will be manifest that various additions, modifications, and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept.

Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape and assembled in virtually any configuration. Furthermore, all the disclosed features of each disclosed, embodiment can be combined with, or substituted for, the disclosed features of every other disclosed embodiment except where such features are mutually exclusive.

It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications, and rearrangements. Expedient embodiments of the present invention are differentiated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dental bib comprising: a non-permeable sheet including at least one absorbent layer and at least one non-permeable layer;a neck strap with a length and a first end permanently attached to the sheet and a free-floating second end; andan adjustment device with a plurality of adhesive-lined detachable portions configured to allow adjustability to the length of the neck strap by severance of at least one of the detachable portions.

2. The dental bib of claim 1, further comprising: an elastic material forming the neck strap; andan embossment on the non-permeable sheet including one of a waffle embossment pattern and a diamond embossment pattern.

3. The dental bib of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a heat weld, a glue, and a mechanical tack configured to bond the permanently-attached first end of the neck strap with the non-permeable sheet.

4. The dental bib of claim 1, further comprising a receiving area on the sheet configured to attach to at least one of the adhesive-lined detachable portions.

5. The dental bib of claim 1, further comprising an inelastic material forming the neck strap.

6. A dental bib for use by a child comprising: a non-permeable sheet including at least one absorbent layer and at least one non-permeable layer;a neck strap having a length and at least one free-floating end with a plurality of detachable portions; anda perforation along each detachable portion configured to allow manual detachment of at least one of the detachable portions.

7. The dental bib of claim 6, further comprising at least one of a heat weld, a glue, and a mechanical tack configured to bond the permanently-attached first end of the neck strap with the non-permeable sheet.

8. The dental bib of claim 6, further comprising an adhesive on each one of the plurality of detachable portions configured to bond with the non-permeable sheet.

9. The dental bib of claim 8, further comprising a permanent bond between the non-permeable sheet and the detachable portion when the adhesive and non-permeable sheet are bonded together.

10. The dental bib of claim 8, further comprising a detachable bond between the non-permeable sheet and the detachable portion when the adhesive and non-permeable sheet are bonded together.

11. A method of assembling a dental bib comprising the steps of providing a non-permeable sheet; permanently attaching a first end of a neck strap to the non-permeable sheet, the neck strap having second, free-floating end with a plurality of detachable portions;perforating a seam along each detachable portion allowing manual detachment of at least one of the detachable portions.

12. The method of assembling the dental bib of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: detaching at least one of the detachable portions along the seam thus determining a length of the neck strap; andbonding at least one of the detachable portions of the neck strap to the non-permeable sheet.

13. The method of assembling the dental bib of claim 11, further comprising: passing the second, free-floating end of the neck strap around a person's neck; andbonding at least one of the detachable portions of the neck strap to the non-permeable sheet.

14. The method of assembling the dental bib of claim 11, further comprising forming a permanent bond between the non-permeable sheet and at least one of the detachable portions when bonding the non-permeable sheet with the detachable portion.

15. The method of assembling the dental bib of claim 11, further comprising forming a non-permanent bond between the non-permeable sheet and at least one of the detachable portions when bonding the non-permeable sheet with the detachable portion.

16. The method of assembling the dental bib of claim 11, further comprising permanently attaching the first end of the neck strap with the non-permeable sheet using at least one of a heat weld, a glue, hook and loop attachment, and a mechanical tack.

17. The method of assembling the dental bib of claim 11, further comprising embossing the non-permeable sheet with a pattern including at least one of a waffle and a diamond pattern.

18. The method of assembling the dental bib of claim 11, further comprising including an elastic material in the neck strap allowing elastic movement of the neck strap.

19. The method of assembling the dental bib of claim 11, further comprising including a non-elastic material in the neck strap preventing elastic movement of the neck strap.

20. The method of assembling the dental bib of claim 11, further comprising: removing a protecting cover on at least one of the detachable portions of the second free-floating end of the neck strap; andjoining an exposed adhesive on the second free-floating end of the neck strap to the non-permeable sheet.