GB2528484A

GB2528484A - Protective Garment

Info

Publication number: GB2528484A
Application number: GB1413061.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rachel Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-07-23
Filing date: 2014-07-23
Publication date: 2016-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-23
Also published as: GB2528484B; GB201413061D0

Abstract

A protective garment, suitable to protect the user's clothing, particularly relates to a child's bib or apron. The bib or apron (5, figure 1) comprises an upper region (10, figure 1) and a lower region 12. It may also comprise two sleeves (14, figure 1). The upper region comprises a neck receiving portion (16, figure 1) which, in use, is placed around the neck of the child A and secured with a fastener (18, figure 1). When worn, the lower region 12 of the garment covers the child's legs and may be fastened over the edge of a high chair B. The garment is secured with a gripping region 40 which is made up of a strip of sticky or gripping material such as a thermoplastic elastomer. The garment may be formed of a waterproof or wipe clean material such as a plastic coated fabric which could be coated nylon.

Description

Protective Garment

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a garment to be worn by an individual to protect the individual's clothing, it particularly relates to a bib or apron, especially for a child.

Background to the Invention

A bib is a garment worn by an individual to protect the individual or their clothing from contamination. The bib is worn at the neck, usually around the neck, and extends over the chest of the individual. The bib may have sleeves and may extend beyond the waist of the individual. Whilst bibs are usually used to prevent contamination from food or drink being consumed by the individual, they may also be used in medical procedures, such as dental procedures.

The bibs most relevant to this invention are those used to prevent dropped food or drinks coming into contact with an individual's clothing. Such bibs may particularly be used by infants, but may also be used by older children or adults, especially those that have difficulty eating or drinking. Such bibs are useful for protecting the chest and occasionally arms of the individual, but don't prevent food from falling on and around the legs of the user and on the chair in which the individual may be sitting. It would be advantageous to provide a bib that protects the legs of the user and the area around the user, such as the chair in which the user is sitting.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a protective garment to be worn by a wearer, the garment having a lower edge, wherein the lower edge is provided with a gripping region.

The protective garment is preferably a bib or an apron. it may comprise an upper region arranged to be fastened around the neck of the wearer. The garment may also comprise sleeves.

The garment preferably extends down from the upper region to form a lower portion or region for covering the body of the wearer. It may also be arranged to cover a chair or other item of furniture used by the wearer. The lower region S may also comprise a fastening means, to allow it to be fastened around the wearer.

The garment is provided with at least one gripping region. The gripping region is preferably found at or near a lower edge of the lower region, but may be provided towards the middle of the lower region. The gripping region is preferably found on the inside of the garment, that is to say on the side of the garment that faces the wearer when worn. The gripping region allows the garment to grip an item of furniture about which the garment is placed. For example, in use, the garment maybe worn by the wearer when sitting in a chair.

The garment may be extended over or about the chair so as to protect the chair from any food dropped by the wearer. The gripping region helps to hold the garment in place. The gripping region may he formed in any appropriate manner. For example, it may be provided with an area that is sticks to or grips a surface against which it is placed. For example, it could be an area of a thermoplastic elastomer, silicon, rubber or acrylic which will grip a surface. It could comprise one or more patches of such material, in a particular embodiment, the gripping region may comprise a strip of thermoplastic elastomer, silicone, rubber or acrylic tape) especially thermoplastic elastomer or silicone tape, that extends along part or all of the lower edge of the garment. The gripping region could be attached to the garment by any appropriate means, such as by heat bonding or gluing.

The garment may be provided with features that allow it to be worn by wearers of different sizes. For example, where the garment is provided with fasteners, such as that allowing the garment to be fastened about the wearer's neck, the fastener may be arranged to be fastened more tightly or more loosely as required. At the neck, the fastener may be any appropriate fastening means. For example, the fastener might be VelcrorM, a series of poppers or press studs, buttons and button holes, or straps that can be tied or held together with clips.

The fastener in the lower part of the garment maybe similar to that at the neck, or may have a different form. The fastener allows the two sides of the lower portion to be fastened together. It maybe such that the two sides of the lower S portion are brought together and are joined using, for example VelcroT" or press studs. Alternatively, the fastening means may comprise one or more straps that extend between the sides of the lower portion, allowing the sides to be fastened together. For example, there may be two straps, which may be tied, or which may comprise a clip or other connecting means to join them together. One or both of the straps may be adjustable in length. One or both of the straps may be elasticated or comprise an elasticated section. Such a section not only allows the size of the garment to be adjusted, by allowing the fastening means to be adjusted to accommodate the wearer and any chair on which the wearer is sitting but also allows the garment to stretch or give when the wearer moves, helping it stay in position.

The garment may or may not have sleeves. When it has sleeves, the sleeves may be adjustable in length. For example, the sleeves may be elasticated at their ends to allow them to be held in place. The sleeves may also be provided with shortening means, such as poppers or press studs positioned along the length of the sleeves to allow the sleeves to be folded back and held in place, thereby shortening them.

The garment may be made of any appropriate material. For example, it may be made of a waterproof or wipe clean material, for example a plastic coated fabric.

It could, in particular be a coated nylon, especially a nylon coated with polyurethane. Alternatively, it may be made of a washable material.

Detailed description of the Invention

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a front view of an example garment.

Figure 2 shows a rear view of an example garment Figure 3 shows the garment in use.

S The figures show a protective garment, 5, according to the invention. The garment comprises an upper region, 10, and a lower region, 12. It also comprises two sleeves, 14.

The garment is arranged to be worn by a wearer. The upper region of the garment comprises a neck receiving portion, 16, which is placed, in use, around the neck of the wearer. The neck receiving portion comprises a fastener, 18, in the embodiment shown the fastener is made of two mating halves of a piece of Velcro. The fastener maybe used to hold the garment in place.

Each sleeve is provided with a sleeve shortener, such as a press stud, 20, the two parts of which may be connected together to shorten the sleeve. Each sleeve is provided with a gathered cuff, 22, which maybe elasticated.

When worn, the sower region, 12, of the garment, is arranged to cover the legs of the wearer A. It can also cover a chair B, or other item of furniture in which the wearer is sitting. in particular, it may be used with a high chair. The lower region has two sides, 24 and 26, which, when worn, cover the sides of the chair.

The two sides of the garment may be fastened together to hold the garment in place. in the embodiment shown, the sides are fastened together by two straps, 28 and 30, which are provided with a clip, 32, to clip them together. One half of the clip is attached to one strap 28 and the other half to the other strap 30. One or both of the straps may be adjustable in length 34 to allow the sides of the garment to be fastened closer together or with more of a gap between them.

This allows the overall size of the garment to be adjusted. One or both of the straps may be elasticated or include an elasticated section 36, to allow the garment to adjust in response to movement of the wearer.

Near to the lower edge, 38, of the lower region) 12, the garment is provided with a gripping region, 40. In the embodiment shown, the gripping region is made up of a strip of sticky or gripping material that helps to prevent the garment slipping and holds it in place.

S

When worn, the garment extends over and about the body of a wearer and any chair or other piece of furniture on which the wearer is sitting or lying. Its various features allow it to be retained in place and allow it to protect the wearer and the furniture from any spillage of any food or drink that the wearer might be consuming.

S

Claims

Claims 1. A protective garment to be worn by a wearer, the garment having a lower edge, wherein the lower edge is provided with a gripping region.
2. The protective garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is a bib or an apron.
3. The protective garment of claim 1 or 2, wherein the garment comprises a lower region for, in use, covering the body of the wearer or for, in use, covering a chair or other item of furniture used by the wearer.
4. The protective garment of any preceding claim, wherein the lower region comprises a fastening means, to allow it to be fastened around the wearer and/or around a piece of furniture used by the wearer.
5. The protective garment of any preceding claim, wherein the garment comprises at least one gripping region.
6. The protective garment of any preceding claim, wherein the gripping region is found at or near a lower edge of the lower region.
7. The protective garment of any preceding claim, wherein the gripping region is found on the inside of the garment.
8. The protective garment of any preceding claim, wherein the gripping region comprises a strip of thermoplastic elastomer, silicone, rubber or acrylic tape.