Abstract:
A single-use disposable device for protecting the clothes of a wearer from spills and debris having a planar sheet attached to a holder that expands to accommodate the neck of a wearer, thus maintaining the planar sheet on the chest area of the wearer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to protective gear in general, and specifically to bibs used in the dental field. More specifically, the invention relates to such bibs having rigid, yet flexible attaching means that are in opposing relations and that define a generally oval or circular shape with an opening that is expandable to allow the attaching means to be placed around a person&#39;s neck thus securing the bib generally over the person&#39;s chest.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Disposable bibs are known in the prior art and are widely used. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,025 to Moret, et al. discloses a disposable bib consisting of sheet material such as laminate comprising a paper topsheet lamina and a thermoploastic backsheet lamina and has a generally oval shaped, neck-accommodating opening that is defined by an inner edge with multiple bifurcations extending radially outward from the inner edge. Moret&#39;s bib requires a fastener, such as tape or a clip, in order to be secured around a wearer&#39;s neck. Moreover, securing Moret&#39;s bib to a wearer who is reclining in a dentist&#39;s chair requires the wearer to lean forward or otherwise to raise his or her head to allow the material surrounding the opening to be wrapped around the neck and fastened. In addition, wearers with long hair must hold their hair away from the back of their neck while the bib is fastened to avoid catching their hair in the opening.  
           [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,952 to Petrini discloses a disposable or reusable bib consisting of an outer layer made of a polyester absorbent nylon layer and a water impermeable under-layer that prevents the clothing of the wearer from getting wet. An optional pocket for receiving spilt food or liquid can be added. The neck opening of Petrini&#39;s bib is enclosed by a continuous, gathered material such that placing the bib onto a wearer requires that the wearer&#39;s entire head pass through the neck opening. Petrini explicitly excludes the use of paper for the bib material because the bib is meant to be washed or rinsed for reuse if desired. Securing Petrini&#39;s bib also requires that reclining wearers lean forward and that long-haired wearers hold the hair away from the back of the neck.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,903 to Porteous discloses a single use disposable dental bib holder system comprised of a synthetic organic plastic strap of length to go about the neck of the wearer and having left and right terminals with clip fasteners and having interlocking portions for fastening to a dental bib. Porteous&#39; bib holder requires fastening of the left and right fasteners to a disposable bib material in order to form a usable bib. Securing Porteous&#39; bib also requires that reclining wearers lean forward and that long-haired wearers hold the hair away from the back of the neck.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,849 to Lansing, et al. discloses a bib holder for holding dental bibs and is comprised of fasteners and a strap between them wherein the strap is made of a flexible material with a central expanded band portion with two flat sides and elongated rod portions extending from the band portion. Lansing&#39;s bib holder requires fastening of the left and right fasteners to a disposable bib material in order to form a usable bib. Securing Lansing&#39;s bib also requires that reclining wearers lean forward and that long-haired wearers hold the hair away from the back of the neck.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,150 to Lucas discloses a disposable bib comprised of a panel that has a bottom edge, a top edge, and a pair of side edges. The panel consists of a top layer comprised of porous material, a middle layer comprised of an absorbent material and a bottom layer comprised of nonporous material. The panel has an opening therein positioned adjacent to the top edge. Alternate embodiments of the bib show either a channel through the bib material from the opening to the top edge of the panel that creates two flaps that must be fastened, or opening edges composed of a gathered material that requires the entire head of the wearer to pass through the opening. Securing Lucas&#39; bib also requires that reclining wearers lean forward and that long-haired wearers hold the hair away from the back of the neck.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,788 to Loewer, et al. discloses a disposable bib consisting of a neck cut-out in the upper end and a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed over the back of the entire bib, except around the neck, that can be secured to the wearer at both the upper and bottom ends and left and right sides. Upon removal from the wearer, the adhesive leaves no residue on the wearer. Loewer&#39;s bib relies on pressure sensitive adhesive to secure the bib to the wearer. Hence, securing the bib to the wearer requires that pressure be exerted on the wearer&#39;s chest area. In addition, removing the bib necessarily requires that the wearer&#39;s clothing be pulled away from the wearer&#39;s body by the adhesive.  
           [0008]    None of the prior art references disclose all of the features of the instant invention either alone or in combination. Moreover, there remains a continuing need for a bib that can be secured to and removed from the wearer quickly, without requiring the use of fasteners such as clips or tape that may snag and possibly damage the wearer&#39;s clothing. Similarly, there remains a continuing need for a bib that does not require attachment to a wearer&#39;s apparel and does not exert pressure on the wearer&#39;s chest area during attachment.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.  
           [0010]    Therefore, it is a primary objective of the invention to provide a means of securing a bib to a wearer that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.  
           [0011]    It is another objective of the invention to provide a cost-efficient disposable bib.  
           [0012]    It is another objective of the invention to provide a time saving means to secure and remove the bib from wearers.  
           [0013]    It is yet another objective of the invention to provide a means of securing a bib to a wearer without requiring the use of fasteners.  
           [0014]    It is a further objective of the invention to provide a means of securing a bib to a wearer without requiring that pressure be applied to the wearer&#39;s body.  
           [0015]    It is another objective of the invention to provide a means of securing a bib to a wearer that reduces the risk of catching or binding the clothing or hair of the wearer.  
           [0016]    It is another objective of the invention to provide a one-piece, easily disposable bib.  
           [0017]    It is a further objective of the invention to provide a space-saving disposable bib, thereby saving storage space.  
           [0018]    It is another objective of this invention to provide a bib that is easy to dispense from a container of multiple bibs.  
           [0019]    In keeping with the principles of the present invention, a unique disposable bib is disclosed that is a single-use, self-contained disposable bib preferably used in the dental field. Specifically, the device is used to prevent splashes, spills, and other material from getting on the patient&#39;s clothing.  
           [0020]    The unit, in one preferred embodiment, is comprised of at least two flexible, yet rigid elongated member (for example, a latex-free wire) in opposing relations and defining an opening therebetween of sufficient size to accommodate the neck of a user. Other examples of the flexible, yet rigid member include a wire or thin slat composed of metal, plastic, laminate, or composite. The members are arced inwardly wherein the end of each member is in proximal relation to the end of the opposing member. Other examples of the shape defined by the wires include circular, oval, square, rectangle, and triangle. The ends of the members are slightly enlarged and rounded to form generally bead-shapes to allow safe and comfortable attachment to the neck of a wearer.  
           [0021]    The base portion of the members attach to a substantially rectangular piece of bib material. The bib may be secured to the wearer by pulling apart the two ends of the opposing members, thus widening the opening to allow the neck of the wearer to pass between the two ends of the members into the inner portion of the arc. The respective members are then released, thus resuming their arced shape and enclosing the wearer&#39;s neck.  
           [0022]    Such stated objects and advantages of the invention are only examples and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the invention herein will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the claims that follow. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one preferred embodiment of a disposable bib.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one preferred embodiment of the disposable bib with the opposing members pulled apart in order to accommodate the neck of a wearer.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of one preferred embodiment of a disposable bib taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a device  10  is illustrated for protecting a wearer&#39;s clothing from debris and liquid, and more specifically, debris and liquid resulting from a dental procedure. Device  10  may be individually packaged in a hermetically sealed wrapper (not shown) of a type found on other medical supplies to preserve the sterile environment therein. Device  10  may be packaged with multiple devices per box. Device  10  has a holder  12  that is comprised of a flexible, yet rigid first member  14 , a second member  16 , and a base  18 , wherein first member  14  and second member  16  are in opposing relations. In one preferred embodiment, first member  14  and second member  16  are arced inwardly. In another preferred embodiment, first member  14  and second member  16  have a telescoping feature such that their length could be adjusted. Holder  12 , for purposes of illustration but not limitation, may be made from metal, thin slat composed of metal, plastic, laminate, or composite materials. Although first member  14  and second member  16  are preferably arced, it is to be understood that device  10  may be made of any other suitable shape such as, but not limited to, a circle, oval, square, rectangle, or triangle.  
         [0027]    Holder  12  may be of sufficient size to allow a neck of a wearer  20  to be securely, yet removably, engaged between first member  14  and second member  16  within an opening  22  defined thereby. In order to accommodate neck  20  in a comfortable manner, a first element  24  and a second element  26  are located on a top portion of first member  14  and second member  16  respectively. In one preferred embodiment, elements  24  and  26  are spherical and smooth in nature such that their surface has a reduced frictional force. Members  14  and  16  have sufficient flexibility and resiliency to allow further separation thereof such that neck  20  of a wearer can pass therethrough, after which, members  14  and  16  return to their original shape to engage and maintain the neck  20  of a wearer therebetween. Base  18  may also be angled to allow greater flexibility and resiliency for the members  14  and  16 .  
         [0028]    A protective component  28  maintains holder  12  in a secure manner. Now also referring to FIG. 3, component  28  is comprised of a top layer  30  and a bottom layer  32 . In one preferred embodiment, top layer  28  is made of a polyester absorbent nylon layer and bottom layer  32  is made of a liquid impermeable under-layer. Bottom layer  32  is in proximal relations to a chest (not shown) of a wearer such that any liquid spills will be trapped by the top layer  30  and be impermeable to the bottom layer  32 . Although component  28  is illustrated as having a rectangular shape, it is to be understood that any other appropriate shape may be substituted therefor.  
         [0029]    In one preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, base  18  and portions of members  14  and  16  are securely maintained between top layer  30  and bottom layer  32 . Holder  12  is positioned between top layer  30  and bottom layer  32  before attachment of said top layer  30  to said bottom layer  32  through any method known in the art such as, but not limited to, adhesive application. In an alternate embodiment, first member  14  and second member  16  could traverse through component  28  from the bottom layer  32  to top layer  30  such that base  18  is engaged by bottom layer  32 .  
         [0030]    While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible without departing from the essential spirit of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated above, but rather by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.