Patent Application
20150135391
This invention relates generally to bibs for collecting the spilled food of a toddler and, more particularly, to a bib that may be mounted to the edge of a table and configured to collect spilled food as a toddler eats at the table and also to collect crumbs from the table surface.
A traditional bib is a piece of cloth or plastic fastened around a person's neck—typically an infant or toddler—to keep his clothes clean while eating. Most bibs just collect liquid or semi-liquified foods from soiling the toddler's shirt while allowing more solid food stuffs to fall into the toddler's lap. Some bibs, however, may include a pouch at the lower end configured to catch solid or semi-solid food particles. A bib is typically worn while the child is sitting in a high chair that also includes a tray for collecting food particles and which may be removed and rinsed in a sink.
As a toddler grows older and bigger, he may “graduate” to sitting in a chair or booster seat at a traditional table, in this instance, there still may be a desire to protect the child's clothing from falling food particles by attaching a bib around the neck. Other food particles may fall onto the table and have to be cleaned up later. The table itself—unlike a highchair tray—cannot be removed and washed in a sink, making cleanup more difficult.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a bib that is mountable to a table that is configured to protect both the clothing of a toddler sitting proximate the table as well as to collect food particles that drop onto the table itself.
A bib for use on a table or other support surface according to the present invention includes a mounting portion and a collection portion. The mounting portion has opposed front and rear edges and a bottom surface that is configured to grip the support surface when positioned thereon. The collection portion has an upper end coupled to the front edge of the mounting portion and a lower end opposed to the upper end. The collection portion also has a pouch adjacent to the lower end. The pouch defines an open top that is configured to receive falling debris and a closed bottom that is configured to contain the debris.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a bib that may be mounted near the edge of a table that is configured to protect both the clothing of a toddler sitting proximate the table as well as to collect food particles that drop onto the table itself.
Another object of this invention is to provide a bib, as aforesaid, having a mounting portion that grips the planar top of a table and a collection portion that hangs down from the edge of the table with a pouch to collect fallen food particles.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a bib, as aforesaid, that is portable, storable, and washable in the manner of traditional bibs.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bib, as aforesaid, that may include indicia attractive to a toddler.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a bib, as aforesaid, that may be used to protect the clothing of a child older than a toddler, may be used upon a table while baking or preparing other food items, or while engaging in arts and crafts, and for other uses.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
A bib for use on a table or other support surface will now be described in detail with reference to
The mounting portion 100 has a generally planar configuration and includes a front edge 102, an opposed rear edge 104, and a bottom surface 110. The bottom surface 110 is configured to grip the support surface 20 when positioned thereon (
The mounting portion 100 may also include opposed first 112 and second 114 arm sections. The first arm section 112 may include a first terminal end 116 that extends away from the front edge 102 of the mounting portion 100. Additionally, the second arm section 114 may include a second terminal end 118 that also extends away from the front edge 102 of the mounting portion 100. Consequently, the first 112 and second 114 arm sections, together, may include a generally U-shaped configuration. In one embodiment, the mounting portion may include a front section 111 immediately adjacent the front edge 102 from which the first 112 and second 114 side arm sections extend (
The mounting portion 100 may define a void 150 between the first 116 and second 118 terminal ends of the first 112 and second 114 arm sections, respectively. The void 150 may be configured so as to allow a cup, plate, or bowl (not shown) to be placed on the support surface 20 between the first 112 and second 114 arm sections. Additionally, the void 150 may be configured so as to allow the bib 10 to be pulled from the support surface 20 without disturbing the cup, plate, or bowl (not shown). In this way, the surface area of the bottom surface 110 of the mounting portion 100 can be increased, thereby increasing the security of the mounting portion 100 to the support surface 20 so as to decrease the likelihood that the bib 10 will be accidently pulled from the support surface 20.
The collection portion 200 includes an upper end 202, an opposed lower end 204, and a pouch 210. The upper end 202 of the collection portion 200 is coupled to the front edge 102 of the mounting portion 100. The pouch 210 is adjacent to the lower end 204 of the collection portion 200 and may be displaced from the upper end 202 of the collection portion 200.
The pouch 210 defines an open top 212 and a closed bottom 214. The open top 212 is configured to receive falling debris, such as falling food particles. The closed bottom 214 is configured to contain debris. The pouch 210 may be impermeable so that the closed bottom 214 may receive fluids as well. Being impermeable, fluids received into the pouch can only be removed through the open top, such as by pouring them out.
The collection portion 200 may include first 222 and second 224 side edges that extend between the upper 202 and lower 204 ends of the collection portion 200 of the bib 10. The open top 212 of the pouch 210 may extend between the first 222 and second 224 side edges of the collection portion 200. In addition, the front surface of the collection portion 200 may include indicia 206, such as eyes or other facial features or cartoon characteristics.
The mounting portion 100 and the collection portion 200 may be flexible so that the bib 10 may be washed and/or folded or rolled for storage. The pouch may be configured to receive the mounting portion and the collection portion when the mounting portion and the collection portion are folded or rolled for storage.
In use, the mounting portion 100 may be placed on the support surface 20 and the collection portion 200 may hang therefrom. The mounting portion 100 may collect some debris that would otherwise collect on the support surface 20. The collection portion 200, and especially the pouch 210 of the collection portion 200, may collect additional debris that may otherwise collect on clothing, on a chair, in a lap, on the floor, or at any other undesirable location. After use, the bib 10 may be washed and folded or rolled for storage.
It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
