BABY-BATHING AID

Abstract: A safety baby-bathing aid comprises an apron (1) of largely standard design to which a towel (13) is detachably connected, preferably with the aid of VELCRO3 strips (11 and 15). Preferably both the apron (1) and the towel (13) are internally lined with a waterproof membrane. After bathing a baby, a wearer of the baby-bathing aid can pull the towel from the apron to dry the baby.

Description: BABY-BATHING AID This invention relates to a baby-bathing aid, which is worn over one's normal clothes and allows the user to use both hands when removing a baby or child from a bath. It is envisaged the aid could be used for children from birth to an age of around ten years. According to the present invention, I provide a safety baby-bathing aid comprising an apron having a skirt portion, and a towel detachably connected to the apron so as to overlie at least a major part of the skirt portion. Preferably, the apron is of largely standard design with a bib portion upstanding from a central upper edge region of the skirt portion, and having an upper loop which slips over a user's head, and a pair of strings or ties extending outwardly from each side edge of the upper edge of the skirt, which can be tied or otherwise joined around the user's waist. Preferably, the towel is connected to the apron by means of VE CRO strips (VELCRO is a Registered Trade Mark) , preferably there being a continuous length of VELCRO strip on the front face of the apron portion at waist level and a co-operating continuous strip of VELCRO along a central top edge region of the towel. The towel may be larger than the skirt portion and the bib portion may have a patch pocket thereon, together with a loop to which a user's wrist watch may be connected whilst bathing a baby. The apron may be internally lined with a waterproof membrane, and both the apron and towel may be provided with a hanging loop. A preferred embodiment of the safety baby-bathing aid according to the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:- FIGURE l is a plan view of an apron, and FIGURE 2 is an underneath view of a towel detached from the apron. In the drawings, the apron 1 has a skirt portion 2, to an upper edge of which an upstanding bib portion 3 is attached, there being the usual loop 5 connected to the top corners of the bib portion 3, which may have a length of about 42cm so that it can be slipped easily over a wearer's (user's) head. The bib portion may measure about 26cm high by 25.5cm wide, and a patch pocket 7 approximately 17cm square may be attached centrally to its face. A logo patch or manufacturer's label may be attached to the pocket 7. A loop 8 may be connected to the bib portion 3 to which a wristwatch may be attached during bathing of a baby. Two ties or strings 9 are attached to the top edge of the skirt portion 2 (total length approximately 200cm) , as extensions of a strengthened waistband. The skirt portion 2 may measure approximately 69cm wide and 63cm high and at the waist may be gathered in (as shown in Figure 1) relative to the lower edge, so as to have a width of about 39cm. A length of VELCRO strip is attached to the waistband and the first part of each tie 9, as shown at 11. A rectangular towelling panel 13, which may be larger than the skirt portion 2, e.g. about 110cm wide by 80cm high, is detachably connectable to the skirt portion 2 by a VELCRO strip 15 located centrally on a rear top edge portion of the panel 13. The towelling panel 13 can subsequently be used as a normal towel to dry the baby or child after bathing. Furthermore, when attached to the skirt portion 2, it ensures that the apron 1 does not get too wet when bathing a baby or child, and it also keeps the apron 1 dry while drying the baby or child. It will of course be appreciated that both the apron 1 and towelling panel 13 may be used independently as an apron and a towel respectively; also, each can be used for purposes other than bathing babies or young children. The above-mentioned measurements mean that the apron is designed to fit any average sized adult female, e.g. a person with a height of about 163cm and an average waist measurement. The VELCRO strip is about 67cm long, which allows for most female waist measurements plus clothing without the VELCRO becoming involved in the tying behind the user of the ties 9, the avoidance of which would make the apron too loose. The apron 1 is preferably made of a low pile absorbent towelling material of either 100% cotton or cotton synthetic fibre mix. The edges of the apron 1 are preferably bound with a contrasting colour cotton or cotton mix bias tape, whilst the edges of the towel may be finished with a non contrasting colour cotton or cotton mix bias binding. The waistband of the apron 1 and/or the ties 9 may be of a contrasting colour to the rest of the apron (although bib portion 5 and skirt portion 2 may be of different colours) . It is preferred that the edge binding on the apron 1 will be of a contrasting colour to the rest of the apron, whereas that on the towelling panel 13 will be of the same colour as the rest of the panel 13. This helps to distinguish the towelling panel 13 from the apron 1, especially when both are formed of white towelling material. A loop (not shown) is preferably provided on the centre front of the towelling panel 13, which serves both to enable the panel 13 to be centred on the apron 1 when attaching it to the apron 1, and also allows the panel 13 to be hung up, e.g. on a hook. Preferably, the smoother "looped" strip of the two co¬ operating VELCRO strips 11, 15 is attached to the towelling panel 13, and the harsher "hooked" portion is attached to the apron waistband. This reduces the risk of hurting a baby when drying the baby with the towelling panel 13. It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS ; 1. A baby-bathing aid comprising an apron having a skirt portion, and a towel detachably connected to the apron so as to overlie at least a major part of the skirt portion. 2. A baby-bathing aid comprising an apron adapted in use to cover a major part of the front of a person who is bathing a baby, the apron having a skirt portion, and a towel detachably connected to the apron so as to overlie at least a major part of the skirt portion, the towel being easily detachable from the apron to dry the baby after the baby has been bathed, with the apron still protecting the person from getting wet while the baby is being dried using the detached towel. 3. A baby-bathing aid in the form of a combination garment comprising an apron having a bib portion, a skirt portion and means for securing the apron in place to cover a major portion of the front of the body of a wearer, and a towel, the towel being detachably secured to the apron and being easily detached therefrom by the wearer for drying a baby after the baby has been bathed, the apron, after the towel has been detached therefrom, still providing protection to the front of the wearer to prevent the wearer from getting wet while drying the baby with the detached towel. 4. A baby-bathing aid according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the towel is connected to the apron by means of one or more pairs of complementary releasable self-adhesive areas, pads or strips, which are immediately releasable with one hand, such as VELCRO strips (VELCRO is a Registered Trade Mark) . 5. A baby-bathing aid according to claim 4, wherein there is a continuous length of self-adhesive strip on the front face of the apron at waist level and a co-operating or complementary continuous self-adhesive strip along a central top edge region of the towel. 6. A baby-bathing aid according to any one of claims 1- 5 5, wherein the towel is larger than the skirt portion. 7. A baby-bathing aid according to any one of claims 1- 6, wherein a bib portion of the apron has a patch pocket thereon, together with a loop to which a wrist watch may be 10 connected whilst a baby is being bathed. 8. A baby-bathing aid according to claim 7, wherein the patch pocket is sealable by complementary self-adhesive strips such as VELCRO strips. • 15 9. A baby-bathing aid according to any one of claims 1- 8, wherein the apron is internally lined with a waterproof membrane. 20 10. A baby-bathing aid according to any one of claims 1- 9, wherein both the apron and towel are provided with a hanging loop.

Inventors: MICHELL ARABELLA CAROLINE, MICHELL, ARABELLA, CAROLINE
Applicants: MICHELL ARABELLA CAROLINE, MICHELL, ARABELLA, CAROLINE
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A41D13
IPC codes: A41D13