APRON HAVING IMPERMEABLE LAYER AND REMOVEABLE TOWEL RING

An apron is disclosed that includes a garment configured to cover a portion of a user's body, the garment comprising a first outer layer formed of an absorbent material, a middle layer formed of an impermeable layer, and a back layer, and a towel ring connected to the first outer layer, wherein the towel ring is shaped to receive a towel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to kitchen aprons, and more particularly to fluid blocking and protecting aprons.

BACKGROUND

Household and kitchen aprons are well known in the art including aprons as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,129,486 that issued Sep. 6, 1938 to Berman. Aprons are intended to protect clothing from accidental splatters, food debris, and various fluids. Many apron users will dry their hands and fingers on apron surfaces during use. Known apron designs utilize cotton, an absorbent material. Cotton aprons absorb fluids and food splatter, protecting a user's clothing and protect a user's footwear by absorbing the fluid and food material before it falls unto the footwear. Cotton aprons protect clothing and user's garments until fluid and other food splatter permeates the apron to an underside.

Known aprons lack an impermeable layer under an outside surface having absorbent properties and a towel ring. Hence there is a need for an apron that includes an absorbent front-facing surface configured for food and fluid absorption and an underside or middle section that is impermeable to fluid and food debris that includes a ring one may drape a towel and a detachable strap for easy removal of a towel ring.

SUMMARY

An apron is disclosed that includes a garment configured to cover a portion of a user's body, the garment comprising a first outer layer formed of an absorbent material, a middle layer formed of an impermeable layer, and a back layer, and a towel ring connected to the first outer layer, wherein the towel ring is shaped to receive a towel.

Certain embodiments of the invention include a feature of a forward-facing detachable strap for easy removal of the towel ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-11illustrate an apron10having a towel ring20. The towel ring20is intended to receive a towel that may be draped through the ring20for use by a user for added protection or convenience. The towel ring20is preferably secured to the apron10using a strap21. The apron10is a garment that may form onto a user's body and is preferably sized and shaped to partially cover a user's body, as is known in the art of aprons. The apron10includes a body12, waist straps30, and, in some embodiments, neck straps40. In some embodiments, the body12can include one or more pockets22, which can be various sizes and shapes.

Referring toFIGS. 1-11, the body12can include one or more layers of a variety of flexible materials such as denim, canvas, oil cloth, cotton, nylon, vinyl, and the like. In one embodiment, each layer of material in body12can include one or more of these materials. In one embodiment, one or more of the layers may be formed of material having portions such as a laminate, composite, or coated material.FIGS. 10 and 11are enlarged cross-sectional side views of an exemplary embodiment of the apron10showing three layers: a front layer50is formed of canvas or other absorbent material, a middle impermeable layer52, and a back layer54. The back layer is preferably formed of a comfortable material, but may be formed of any of the materials described above for the body12. A pocket22forms an opening23shown in the exemplaryFIGS. 10 and 11.

Various embodiments of the body12may be different sizes and shapes, such as a larger, approximately rectangular shape to accommodate an adult, or a smaller, substantially oblong shape. In some embodiments, the body12can include an upper section14and lower section16.

The upper section14can be sized to cover, and in some embodiments, wrap at least partially around, the torso, or upper torso, of the user of the apron10. The upper section14can include a top edge13and upper side edges15. The upper side edges15can be substantially straight, or, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiment, concaved or tapered, to provide a better fit for the arms of a user, as is known. The top edge13can be curved, to conform to the shape of a user's neck, or it can be substantially straight, as shown in the exemplary embodiments ofFIGS. 1-3.

The upper section14can include a pair of straps40configured to adjustably hold apron10around a user's neck, such as by tying the straps40together. Straps40can be positioned along top edge13or an upper portion of upper side edges15. One skilled in the art will understand that apron10can be held around a user's neck in many different ways, and can be adjustable to fit many different users. The straps40can include any of the materials described above for the body12, or may include other known strap materials, such as rope, elastic, webbing material, and the like. In some embodiments, the straps40can be configured to adjustably hold the apron10around a user's neck with buckles, snaps, zippers, clasps, hook/loops, and any other mechanical fastening and adjustment device known in the art. In some embodiments, apron10can include a single, contiguous strap that forms a loop to hold apron10around a user's neck such as shown in an exemplary embodiment inFIG. 10. As shown in the figures, one of the straps40includes a D-shaped buckle41. In various embodiments the buckle41may be absent.

The lower section16can be sized and shaped in any way to cover, and/or wrap at least partially around a lower portion of a user's body, e.g., a lower torso, a user's waist, and/or legs. The lower section16can include a bottom edge17and lower side edges19positioned between the bottom edge17and the upper side edges15. The edges17,19can be curved, or as shown in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, substantially straight. The lower section16can include straps30configured to hold apron10around a user's torso, such as by tying the straps30around the user's waist. The straps30can include any of the materials described above for the straps40and/or the body12, and can function similarly to the manner thereof, to adjustably hold the lower section16to a lower portion of a user's body.

The upper section14and the lower section16can include any of the materials described above for body12, and can include the same or different materials relative to each other. In some embodiments, one of the sections14,16includes a material that absorbs fluid, whereas the other of sections14,16includes a material that repels, or is resistant to absorbing fluid, i.e., impermeable. In some embodiments, the sections14,16include a single integrated piece. In one embodiment, the sections14,16can include a common edge24.

In some embodiments, the lower section16can include pockets22such as shown inFIGS. 1-2. The pockets22can be integrated with lower section16, as illustrated inFIGS. 1-2, or in some embodiments, integrated with upper section14. The pockets22can include any of the materials described above for upper and/or lower sections14,16, and can include the same or different materials as upper and/or lower sections14,16.

In one embodiment, the pockets22may be hidden or concealed. As shown inFIG. 10a partial cutaway view shows that the pockets22are beneath a first layer50and stitched on top of the middle layer52. In one embodiment, the pockets22are stitched between the front layer50and the middle impermeable layer52or between the middle layer52and the back layer54. The pockets are accessible through openings60. In one embodiment, the upper section14is stitched to the middle and back layers52and54along a horizontal stitch line62. The lower section16is intermittently stitched to the middle and back layers52and54so as to leave an opening in the fabric for accessing the pockets62. As one skilled in the art will readily recognize, the pockets22may be formed of the middle layer52by stitching the middle layer52to the back layer54in a manner that forms pockets. In one embodiment, the pockets are formed of additional material.

FIGS. 13 and 14are further embodiments of the apron10having a strapless top section.FIG. 13shows the apron10having embedded magnets70for connection to moveable magnets72. The embedded magnets70may be stitched or otherwise secured to the apron10and may be embedded between layers50and52or between layers52and54. In use, a user may place magnets72within the apron10and outside for attachment thereto.FIG. 14is a back view shows an embodiment of the apron10having pins74for piercing a user's shirt or garment for securement thereto. The pins74are preferably placed on the underside of the apron10showing a surface of the layer54toward a top end such as near the top edge13. In this way, the apron10may be best secured to a user without folding over.

FIG. 15shows an exemplary apron10having a strap21for a towel ring (not shown).FIG. 15shows the strap21in an uncoupled state, i.e., unfolded and unengaging a towel ring such as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The exemplary strap21includes a hook and look fastener80and81. In one embodiment, the strap21includes a hook82which may be secured through a loop84. A towel ring may be looped through the strap21, which may then be secured by hooking the hook82through the loop84and engaging the portions of the hook and look fastener80and81together. In various additional embodiments, the strap may include one or more removable mechanical fasteners such as buttons, pins or snaps.

The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications thereto. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.