Apron for a person to wear when consuming food and / or drinks, and method for producing such an apron
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023727445
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-05-05
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-03
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-12
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-05-03
AI Technical Summary
Conventional aprons are cumbersome and complicated to use, often failing to effectively protect individuals, especially vehicle occupants, event participants, and disabled persons, from contamination while consuming food and drinks, as they do not adequately cover the lower body and are difficult to put on.
An apron made from a foil bag with a partial or full cutout in the upper region for the neck and a foldable partial cutout in the lower region, allowing easy donning and providing extended coverage by folding over the lap and thighs, with optional absorbent pockets for residue collection.
The apron offers simple, effective protection against soiling, suitable for individuals at high risk of contamination, such as vehicle passengers and event attendees, while being easy to manufacture and use, and can be made from environmentally friendly materials.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] i
[0002] Apron for a person to wear when consuming food and / or drinks and method for producing such an apron
[0003] The invention relates to an apron for a person to wear when consuming food and / or drinks, in particular an apron according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a method for producing such an apron according to the preamble of the independent claim.
[0004] There are numerous types of aprons available to protect people from soiling, including disposable aprons and bibs made of plastic film. These bibs are used primarily when consuming food and / or drinks, but they only protect the upper body from soiling. Conventional aprons are often very long and cumbersome to handle. Therefore, the following situations in particular make the use of conventional aprons unsuitable:
[0005] Occupants of vehicles (cars, commercial vehicles, but also ships, boats, etc.) or aircraft are often involved in consuming food during their journey; this also applies to drivers, who (have to) consume drinks, food, snacks, etc. while driving. This creates the problem that passengers soil themselves and their clothing, sometimes considerably. The same applies to participants or spectators at an event such as baseball or American football, who like to consume food and drinks during the game. This problem actually exists for all persons who are in a sitting position while consuming food and / or drinks and are therefore at risk of becoming soiled; examples here include wheelchair users, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
[0006] US Patent 5,530,968 discloses such an apron intended to protect a vehicle driver from soiling while consuming food and / or drinks. The apron has an upper portion with a cutout for attaching the apron to the wearer's neck and a lower portion for covering
[0007] Confirmation copy of at least the upper body of the wearer. The neckline is smaller than the wearer's head and the apron is made of a flat plastic material (PE) with a certain material thickness, which makes it necessary to provide a slit with a fastener ("slit 24" and "adhesive tape 26" in Fig. 1) at the neckline so that the wearer can put the apron around their neck. Furthermore, the lower section of the apron can be folded upwards to form a pocket-shaped collecting area ("lower front pocket 30") for falling food residues (solid or liquid). For this to happen, however, the lower section of the apron, which is folded upwards, must have a concave cutout ("28" in Fig. 1) and its edges must be connected, i.e. glued or seamed, to the opposite edges ("32" and "34") after being folded over (see column 5, lines 26-41). The construction and use of this apron are therefore quite complicated.
[0008] Another apron with a complex design is disclosed in US patent specification 5,220,692. Further documents relating to the background of the invention include: DE 20 2013 009 525 U1, DE 76 14 288 U1, US 5 740 552 A, and US 3 815 153 A. The object of the invention is to further develop an apron for a person to wear while consuming food and / or drinks in such a way that the aforementioned disadvantages are overcome. In particular, an apron of the type mentioned at the outset is to be further developed in such a way that it is easy to manufacture and reliably protects the wearer from soiling while consuming food and / or drinks. The apron is intended to be particularly suitable for vehicle or aircraft passengers or event participants to protect them from soiling while consuming food and / or drinks.
[0009] The problem is solved by an apron having the features of claim 1.
[0010] Accordingly, the apron according to the invention is characterized in that the apron is made from a film bag or similar structure, which consists of a first and a second substantially rectangular film, wherein the two films are arranged in two layers and are connected to one another at a lower edge and two lateral edges and are not connected to one another at any upper edge, as a result of which an opening in the film bag is formed, wherein the upper region of the apron extends from the opening of the film bag and at least one of the two films in the upper region has a partial or full cutout for the neck of the person or wearer, and wherein the lower region of the apron extends from the lower edge of the film bag and only one of the two films in the lower region has a prepared partial cutout which can be folded over to the thigh area of the person or wearer by means of a folding zone running parallel to the lower edge.can be folded towards the carrier.
[0011] This means that the apron can be made with little effort from an existing plastic bag or larger plastic pouch. By cutting out or providing a partial or full cut-out on at least one piece of film (particularly the back film) in the upper section of the apron, the cut-out rests on the wearer's neck or can even completely enclose it, so that the apron can be worn immediately by simply placing the partial cut-out around the neck or putting the head through the full cut-out or slipping it through. In addition, by cutting out or perforating a partial cut-out in the lower section of the apron and only on one of the two films, namely the film facing forward or the back film, the cut-out can be adjusted to fit the wearer's neck.front film, a part of the film is created that can be folded forward over the lap and thighs of the wearer, whereby the total surface area of the apron can be easily and significantly increased, in order to protect the lower body area of the wearer in particular. When cutting out the cutouts, it is crucial that the prepared partial cutout (continuous cut or perforated) is located in the lower area, i.e. the area of the film bag that extends from the lower closed end of the film bag and not from its opening. This means that the lower edge area can then be used as a collecting area for food and / or drink residues when using the apron. The invention offers everyone effective protection against soiling when consuming food and / or drinks. The apron is particularly suitable for wearers who are exposed to a greater risk of soiling themselves, such aselderly or disabled persons, but also drivers or other passengers who are traveling in a vehicle or aircraft and wish to consume food and / or drinks safely and securely. A vehicle is also understood to include any type of watercraft, although the invention is likely to find application primarily in land vehicles. The apron according to the invention is also suitable as an advertising medium and / or as a bonus accessory for customers of a restaurant, in particular a drive-in restaurant, or for passengers of an airline, or for spectators at an event. The apron can also be made from environmentally friendly, preferably compostable material. Furthermore, a method for producing such an apron is disclosed.
[0012] Advantageous embodiments arise from the subclaims.
[0013] Accordingly, the prepared partial cutout provided in the lower area of the apron will be formed by three incisions (through-hole or perforated), two of which will run parallel to one of the side edges of the film bag, specifically at a distance of 3-15 cm from the respective edge. This will also create elongated, vertically extending collection pockets in the two side edge areas to collect food and / or beverage residues and drain them downwards into the collection pocket located at the lower end.
[0014] Preferably, the collection bags can be lined with an absorbent material, such as paper kitchen towels, by inserting a filling material, in particular a liquid-absorbent filling material, at the lower edge and / or at the lateral edges between the films.
[0015] To determine the dimensions of the lower collection pocket, the fold-over zone or the bend area that forms the upper edge of the lower collection pocket preferably runs parallel to the bottom edge of the film bag at a distance of 5-25 cm. And to determine the dimensions of the lower collection pocket, the two notches running parallel to each of the side edges should preferably be 20-60 cm long.
[0016] In order to dimension and position the gap for the wearer's head, the full cutout has an elliptical, particularly round, shape, the edge of which runs at a minimum distance of 5-10 cm from the upper edge and at a minimum distance of 10-25 cm from the respective side edge.
[0017] The partial cutout of the apron can also be formed by an arched cut.
[0018] The film bag or pouch is preferably made from a bio-based plastic, in particular from bio-polyethylene (Bio PE) or polyethylene furanoate (PEF) or from a biodegradable plastic, in particular from polylactide (PLA) or polybutylene succinate (PBS). Furthermore, the film bag can also be made from a compostable film material, whereby the term film bag is to be understood generally and also includes, for example, a paper bag. Materials that can be mentioned in particular are those made from renewable raw materials such as lactic acid, corn starch, potato starch, sugar cane, sugar beet or cellulose. For example, a paper bag can be used that is lined on the inside with beeswax or another sustainable, biodegradable substance to make the apron as tight as possible against moisture and wetness.
[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment, the foldable partial cutout is printed with information on its surface facing the interior of the foil bag in an orientation that is legible to the occupant while wearing the apron. This allows for the printing of advertising, as well as instructions for use, menus, beverage lists, or price lists, which the wearer can easily read while using the apron.
[0020] The invention is described in detail below using exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which show the following schematic representations:
[0021] Fig. 1 shows the apron (first embodiment) in a front view (top view);
[0022] Fig. 2 shows the apron according to Fig. 1 in a three-dimensional view;
[0023] Fig. 3 illustrates the wearing of the apron according to Fig. 1 ;
[0024] Fig. 4 shows the apron in a variant (second embodiment);
[0025] Fig. 5 shows the apron in a further variant (third embodiment);
[0026] Fig. 6a)-c) show detailed views of a corner in the lower part of the apron according to Fig. 5;
[0027] Fig. 7 shows the apron in yet another variant (fourth embodiment); and
[0028] Fig. 8 shows a flow chart for a method for producing such an apron. A first embodiment is described with reference to Figures 1-3: As shown in the figures, the apron S is made from a film bag 100, which is essentially rectangular in shape and consists of two superimposed films.
[0029] 110 and 120. Three of its edges are connected (welded) to each other, namely the two side edges 102 and 103 and the lower edge 101. At the upper end, the edges 104 are not connected to each other, which is where the opening 140 of the film bag 100 is located. The upper region OB extends downwards from the opening 140 of the film bag, and the lower region UB extends upwards from the lower edge 101.
[0030] In the upper area OB, a full cutout 150 is now formed on both films, ie both films 110 and 120 have a round, here elliptical cutout, through which the wearer, ie e.g. vehicle occupant, puts his head through in order to put the apron around himself.
[0031] In the lower area UB, a foldable partial cutout 111 is formed on only one of the two films, namely on the front film 110. The three cutouts E2, E3 and E4 are dimensioned in such a way that a folding zone or edge Kl is formed near the lower edge 101 and parallel thereto, around which the partial cutout
[0032] 111 can be folded down (see Fig. 1 and 2). The folded-down portion 111 of the front film 110 thus forms protection for the lap and thighs of the wearer P (see Fig. 2 and 3). The inside of the upper film 110 is now openly visible to the wearer P, so that text or other information can be printed or attached there, such as advertising, instructions for use of the apron, etc. For this purpose, the text on the foldable part of the inside is aligned so that it is easily legible when the apron is worn (see Fig. 3).
[0033] The apron, for example, has the dimensions of a standard garbage bag, meaning it is approximately 40-70 cm wide and 60-110 cm long when folded. When the partial cutout 111 is folded over or unfolded, it has a length of approximately 50 cm, which increases the overall length of the apron by approximately 50%.
[0034] The folding zone or edge Kl runs parallel to the lower edge 101 of the film bag 110 (see dashed line Kl in Fig. 1) at a distance DA of approximately 5-20 cm (here approx. 15 cm), forming a lower collection pocket. And the incisions E2 and E3 run parallel to the lateral edges 102 and 103, respectively, at a distance DB of approximately 3-15 cm (here approx. 4-5 cm), thus also forming lateral collection pockets. The collection pockets can safely catch falling food or drink residues and prevent them from getting onto the wearer's clothing P (see Figs. 2 and 3). The collection pockets can optionally be lined with a filling material, in particular a liquid-absorbent filling material F.
[0035] The full cutout 150 intended for the wearer's head or neck, for example, has an elliptical shape, the edge of which runs at a minimum distance DD of 5-10 cm from the upper edge 104 and at a minimum distance DC of 10-25 cm from the respective side edges 102, 103. The cutout 150 can also be circular and should have a diameter of approximately 22 cm.
[0036] The apron P can thus simply be put over the head of the wearer P and is immediately ready for use (see Fig. 3).
[0037] Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment, wherein this apron S has a slightly differently designed foldable partial cutout 111' in the lower region, which is formed only by an arcuate incision E*, wherein the incision is not continuous but perforated. In addition, at least one strip-shaped partial cutout 112 has been cut out of the film that does not have the partial cutout 111', i.e., the rear film 120, which runs parallel to the lateral edges and extends from the opening 140. In the example shown in Fig. 4, two strips 112 are cut out, which can be folded upwards and thus serve as additional fastening strips with which the wearer P can tie the apron S' even more tightly to his body (shoulder, neck), so that the apron is secured against slipping and the lower region of the full cutout 150 lies as close as possible to the neck of the wearer P.
[0038] Fig. 5 shows another exemplary embodiment of an apron in which only the rear film 120 has a cutout for the person's neck, here a full cutout 150, although a partial cutout or recess, as shown in Fig. 7, would also be possible. The front film HO has the partial cutout 111 that can be folded downwards; since both films 110 and 120 are the same length, the foldable area 111 is particularly long and can cover the person's thighs and knees particularly well when the apron is in use, or protect them from dirt. The partial cutout 111 that can be folded around the folded edge Kl is conical, so that the edge areas widen downwards, which improves the catching function of the lower area.In addition, the lower corners of the film bag are folded inward in the shape of a triangle, causing the front film 110 to separate from the rear film 120 in these corner regions 105, automatically creating an effective collection area. This is illustrated in Fig. 6a)-c).
[0039] Fig. 6a) shows a partial view of the corner area 105 of the right corner, i.e. the area at the lower end of the right edge 103 (cf. Fig. 5), with the folding of the corner tip indicated by arrows. After folding, the corner tip is then located between the two films and thereby creates a gap between these films, which widens the collection area. This effectively prevents the two films from coming to rest directly on top of each other and the user having to create the collection area by widening the gap between the films. Fig. 6b) shows a view of the side of the right edge 103 and the folded-over film section 111 (sort of like a protective bib for the thighs) before the corner tip is folded in; therefore, both films are still close together. Fig. 6c) shows the situation after the corner tip has been folded in, which creates the gap between the films in the respective corner area 105.This means that a catchment area is always automatically created.
[0040] Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of an apron that has only a partial cutout 150* on the rear film, or a recess for the person's neck. Here, the rear film 120 is longer than the front film 110, ie, the apron is not made from a conventional film bag, but rather a bag-shaped structure with a longer rear film 120 and a shorter front film 110, ie, with films of unequal length.
[0041] Fig. 8 shows a flow diagram for a method M for producing an apron according to the invention (see also the preceding figures), i.e. an apron S for a person P to wear when consuming food and / or drinks, wherein the apron has an upper region OB with a cutout for attaching the apron S to the neck of the person P and a lower region UB for covering at least the upper body of the person P. The method M has at least the following steps (S1 to S3): (51) producing or using a film bag (100) consisting of a first and second rectangular film (HO, 120), wherein the two films (HO, 120) are arranged in two layers and are connected to one another at a lower edge (101) and two lateral edges (102, 103) and are not connected to one another at any upper edge (104), whereby an opening (140) of the film bag (100) is formed,
[0042] (52) on at least one of the two films (110, 120) introducing a partial cutout (150*) or full cutout (150) of the neck of the person (P) into the upper region (OB) of the apron (S), which extends from the opening (140) of the film bag (100); and
[0043] (53) on only one film (HO) of the two films, introducing a prepared partial cutout (111) in the lower region (UB) of the apron (S), which extends from the lower edge (101) of the film bag (100), wherein the partial cutout (111) is designed to be foldable towards the thigh region of the person (P) by a folding zone (Kl) running parallel to the lower edge (101).
[0044] Numerous other variations are conceivable. As the description reveals, the apron is very cost-effective to produce and is ready to use (full neckline for slipping over). Furthermore, it can be extended immediately and effortlessly by folding down the partial neckline. Furthermore, it is particularly effective in preventing soiling of the wearer, not least due to the designed pockets. Therefore, the apron is particularly suitable for wearers who, due to certain circumstances (eating while traveling, flying, or attending an event), do not want or are unable to consume food and / or drinks at a table or similar. In this sense, the apron is also suitable for patients in hospitals, residents of retirement homes, or visitors to daycare centers.
Claims
Patent claims 1. Apron (S) for a person (P) to wear when consuming food and / or beverages, wherein the apron (S) has an upper area (OB) with a cutout for attaching the apron (S) to the neck of the person (P) and a lower area (UB) for covering at least the upper body of the person (P), characterized in that the apron (S) is made of a foil bag (100) consisting of a first and second rectangular film (HO, 120), wherein the two films (110, 120) are arranged in two layers and are connected to each other at a lower edge (101) and two side edges (102, 103) and are not connected to each other at an upper edge (104), thereby forming an opening (140) of the foil bag (100), wherein the upper area (OB) of the apron (S) extends from the opening (140) of the foil bag (100) and at least one of the two films (110,120) in the upper area (OB) has a partial cutout (150*) or full cutout (150) for the neck of the person (P), and wherein the lower area (UB) of the apron (S) extends from the lower edge (101) of the foil bag (100) and only one foil (HO) of the two foils in the lower area (UB) has a prepared partial cutout (111) which can be folded over by a folding zone (Kl) running parallel to the lower edge (101) towards the thigh area of the person (P).
2. Apron (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the prepared, foldable partial cutout (111) is formed: by three perforated or continuous cuts (El, E2, E3), two of which (E2, E3) run parallel to one of the lateral edges (102, 103) of the foil bag (100), in particular at a distance (DB) of 5-15 cm from the respective edge; or by an arc-shaped, perforated cut (E*) or continuous cut.
3. Apron (S) according to claim 2, characterized in that the two incisions (E2, E3) running parallel to each of the lateral edges (102, 103) have a length of 20-60 cm. Apron (S') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only the rear (120) of the two films has the partial cutout (150*) in the upper area (OB) in the form of a recess for placing on the neck of the person (P), wherein the apron has at least one band-shaped structure (113) that encloses the neck when the apron is used. Apron (S') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one strip-shaped partial cutout (112) running parallel to the side edges and extending from the opening (140) is cut out of the film (120) that does not have the partial cutout (111'). Apron (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding zone (Kl) runs parallel to the lower edge (101) of the film bag (100) at a distance (DA) of 5-20 cm.Apron (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the full cutout (150) has an elliptical, in particular round, shape, the edge of which extends at a minimum distance (DD) of 5-10 cm from the upper edge (104) and at a minimum distance (DC) of 10-25 cm from the respective lateral edge (102, 103). Apron (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a filling material (F), in particular a liquid-absorbent filling material (F), is introduced at the lower edge (101) and / or at the lateral edges (102, 103) between the films (110, 120). Apron (S) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the film bag (100) is made of a bio-based plastic, in particular bio-. The apron (S) is made of polyethylene (bio-PE) or polyethylene furanoate (PEF), or of a biodegradable plastic, in particular of polylactic acid (PLA) or polybutylene succinate (PBS). The apron (S) according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the film bag (100) is made of a compostable film material, in particular by means of renewable raw materials comprising lactic acid, corn starch, potato starch, sugar cane, sugar beet, or cellulose. The apron (S) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foldable partial cutout (111) has information (I) printed on its surface facing the interior of the film bag (100) in an orientation legible to the wearer (P) when wearing the apron (S). Use of an apron (S) according to any one of the preceding claims for the protection of a vehicle or aircraft occupant or event participant.Method (M) for manufacturing an apron (S) for a person (P) to wear when consuming food and / or drinks, wherein the apron (S) has an upper area (OB) with a cutout for attaching the apron (S) to the neck of the person (P) and a lower area (UB) for covering at least the upper body of the person (P), characterized by the following steps:. (51) Manufacturing or using a foil bag (100) consisting of a first and second rectangular film (HO, 120), wherein the two films (110, 120) are arranged in two layers and joined together at a lower edge (101) and two side edges (102, 103) and not joined together at any upper edge (104), forming an opening (140) of the foil bag (100), (52) on at least one of the two foils (110, 120) inserting a partial cutout (150*) or full cutout (150) the neck of the person (P) into the upper area (OB) of the apron (S), which extends from the opening (140) of the Foil bags (100) extend; and (S3) on only one film (110) of the two films, inserting a prepared partial cutout (111) in the lower area (UB) of the apron (S), which extends from the lower edge (101) of the film bag (100), wherein the partial cutout (111) is designed to be foldable around a folding zone (Kl) running parallel to the lower edge (101) towards the thigh area of the person (P).