Intergrated, coordinated protective article and garment for continuous use

Abstract

An integrated, coordinated protective article and garment for continuous use is provided, which comprises: a garment having a shirt or suit portion; a protective shield for covering substantially the chest and abdomen of the shirt or suit portion, respectively; and an array of detachable snap fasteners distributed about selected peripheral portions of the shield. The garment also has fasteners about peripheral portions thereof arranged for mating engagement with cooperating fasteners on the shield, such that rotational and lateral movements, and folding, of the shield relative to the garment are restricted. In addition, the shield is provided in colors, designs or the like for ready aesthetic coordination with the garment when the shield is attached thereto.

Description

[0001]This application is based on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 911,538, filed Apr. 13, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to safety and fashion and, more particularly, to fashionable articles for protecting clothing of young children and the disabled during feeding, teething or the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Conventional articles for protecting the clothing of young children, particularly infants, during feeding take the form of relatively small bibs which are intended to catch food and drink spillage, drool and dribble. The articles need not be small, having also been enlarged and adapted for use by the disabled including mentally retarded adults. Whether for children or adults, these bibs typically comprise a section of cloth or flexible plastic material formed in a circular or oval shape with one or more extensions that are wrapped arou...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combination bib and garment assembly that is adapted for continuous, prolonged use without hazard to the wearer.

[0014]Another object of the present invention is to provide a bib that may be readily secured to a coordinating garment such that the bib does not rotate to either side or to the back of the wearer.

[0015]A further object of the present invention is to provide a bib that readily attaches to and detaches from a coordinating garment, rather than wrapping around a wearer's neck, and thereby avoids the risk of strangulation.

Problems solved by technology

While somewhat useful in protecting clothing immediately below the wearer's mouth, by encircling the neck of a wearer who often has limited cognitive capacity, these bibs frequently pose a strangulation hazard, especially when the wearer is mobile.

More specifically, in the case of an infant, while crawling around, walking and squeezing through relatively tight quarters, the bib, it has been found, often catches readily on nearby objects such as armrests of chairs, table edges and other portions of furniture, thereby snaring and choking the infant.

In addition, these bibs are otherwise unrestrained, being attached to the child's neck in a manner that allows them to rotate freely.

Once they have rotated to the side or rear of the infant's head, they not only become a hazard but are also rendered inoperative for their intended purpose, namely, for catching spillage, drool and dribble.

Moreover, given that the bib is attached to the wearer in such a manner that it moves about freely in multiple degrees of freedom, the bib structure itself is loose and can readily flop over the wearer's face, particularly his / her nose and mouth.

While of relatively less concern when the infant or disabled user is awake, the bib may easily flap over the wearer's face while he / she is sleeping, or in the case of infants who spend many hours of the day in a horizontal position, the bib can flop easily over the wearer's face posing a suffocation hazard.

Similarly, while the wearer is awake, he / she may readily place the bottom part of the bib in their mouth and cause them to choke.

A further disadvantage of conventional bibs is difficulty and inconvenience in removing them from the wearer, who is typically an infant or a person who is large physically but may be mentally incapacitated.

Often times, this leads to the mother or medical attendant leaving the bib on the wearer for extended periods of time such as during exercise or sleep.

This increases the probability of choking and / or suffocation.

Although bibs of this sort are relatively easy to use and, thus, in rather widespread use, hook and pile fasteners, especially the hook portions of the strip, have been found very difficult to clean thoroughly and are often a source of disease causing bacteria and viruses.

Such unsanitary conditions, particularly near the head of the wearer, are of particular concern when these bibs are used by infants whose immunity systems are not yet fully developed.

Moreover, in being prone to unsanitary conditions, the hook portions of the strip must be washed frequently and thoroughly by the wearer's mother or other attendant.

If the hook portions are left exposed during washing, i.e., are not secured to the pile strip, however, as is necessary to maximize exposure of the hook surfaces to kill bacteria and viruses, the hook portions snare and often damage other clothing in the load of wash being run.

Hence, each time the bib becomes soiled, to even attempt to clean the hook portions, the mother or attendant must wash the bib separately from other items in the wash but yet with no assurance that the hook and pile fasteners near the head of the wearer will be free from disease causing bacteria and viruses.

Although these bibs are restricted from rotation about the wearer's head, there is considerable risk of choking from the wearer placing bottom portions of the bib in their mouth, or suffocation since the bib flap is free to flop over the wearer's mouth during sleep.

Still another drawback of conventional bibs has been their relative size and shape, given their intended audience.

More specifically, the wearer, whether an infant or a disabled person, are often prone to involuntary and / or illogical movements.

For example, sudden movements of the head to one side or the other, or up and down, during feeding causes food and drink spillage, dribble and drool to flow down the wearer's shoulder or side, or well below the length of the bib and, in any event, not according to the shape of traditional bibs.

Furthermore, traditional bibs are typically constructed according to function and cost savings rather than fashion and safety.

While somewhat functional, they have been found considerably unfashionable.

While the aforementioned approaches are considered relatively effective in protecting those portions of the wearer's garment that are immediately below the user's mouth while the wearer is stationary or in other positions that are not realistic in practice, they are considered not only hazardous, inconvenient and unfashionable, but also ineffective for their intended use, namely, insuring protection of the wearer's garment, in its entirety, from becoming soiled and stained.

Hence, conventional bibs are also considered unacceptable for continuous, prolonged use.

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