Abstract:
A bib system includes a liquid resistant flexible body member having a bottom configured to cover a torso of a user extending a lower periphery. A closure system is configured to engage the flexible body member with the torso of the user. A collapsible support structure is integrated with the flexible body member and is coupled to the closure. The collapsible support structure is configured to support the lower periphery of the flexible body member when the closure is engaged so that the bottom of the flexible body member forms an open pouch at the bottom of the flexible body member. The collapsible support structure is also configured to not to form the pouch when the flexible body member is not applied around the torso of the user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/642,272, filed May 3, 2012, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to bibs and, more specifically, to a bib system that forms a pouch when warn by a user. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Bibs are typically used to prevent food from staining an infant&#39;s clothing. Typical bibs are little more than pieces of cloth or vinyl that protect the clothing. However, such bibs allow food to slide down into the infant&#39;s seating area. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a need for a bib that protects the infant&#39;s seating area. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which, in one aspect, is a bib that includes a liquid resistant flexible body member having a bottom configured to cover a torso of a user extending a lower periphery. A closure system is configured to engage the flexible body member with the torso of the user. A collapsible support structure is integrated with the flexible body member and is coupled to the closure. The collapsible support structure is configured to support the lower periphery of the flexible body member when the closure is engaged so that the bottom of the flexible body member forms an open pouch at the bottom of the flexible body member. The collapsible support structure is also configured to not to form the pouch when the flexible body member is not applied around the torso of the user. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the invention is a bib system that includes a liquid resistant flexible fabric body member having a bottom configured to cover a torso of a user and having a lower periphery. The flexible body member defines a pocket adjacent the bottom. A closure system is configured to engage the flexible body member with the torso of the user. A collapsible support structure is integrated with the flexible body member and is coupled to the closure. The collapsible support structure is configured to support the lower periphery of the flexible body member when the closure is engaged so that the bottom of the flexible body member forms an open pouch at the bottom of the flexible body member. The collapsible support structure is also configured to lay substantially flat or slightly bent when the flexible body member is not applied around the torso of the user. The collapsible support structure is configured to fit into the pocket and includes as least a first elongated stiff flexible rib having a first end and an opposite second end. The rib is disposed along the lower periphery of the flexible body member and is configured to form a substantially circular rim configured to support a portion of the bottom of the flexible body member in the shape of a pouch when the closure system draws the first end next to the second end. The pocket includes an opening so as to allow the collapsible support structure to be removable therefrom to facilitate washing of the flexible body member. 
         [0009]    These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bib during use. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view of an embodiment with a pocket to hold a support structure. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are elevational views of an embodiment with a flap that forms a pocket 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are elevational views of support structures. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a photograph of a bib made in accordance with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIGS. 7A-7D  are photographs showing different views of an embodiment of a bib being worn by a user. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. Unless otherwise specifically indicated in the disclosure that follows, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of a bib  100  or an apron to be worn by a user  10 , such as an infant, includes a flexible body member  110  configured to cover the torso of the user  10 . Two optional sleeve portions  112  may be formed in the flexible body member  110  and are adapted to receive the arms of the user  10  therethrough. A top opening  114  with a closure (such as a strap with a hook and loop fastener, a snap, a hook, a tie or any other securing mechanism) is configured to be placed loosely around the neck of the user  10 . The flexible body member  110  includes a water-repellent fabric or sheet material, such as: 100% woven polyester, vinyl, liquid-repellant non-woven fabric, plastic sheet, or any one of the many fabrics that can repel liquids known to the art. 
         [0019]    A lower closure system, which could include, e.g. a first tab  126  with a hook and loop fastener portion affixed thereto and a second tab  128  with a complementary hook and loop fastener portion affixed thereto, is configured to secure the bib  100  about the user&#39;s  10  waist. A collapsible support structure  120  is used to support a pouch  130  at the bottom of the flexible body member  110 . The collapsible support structure  120  may include a first stiff and flexible elongated rod  122  that is affixed to or embedded into the flexible body member  110  adjacent a curved bottom peripheral edge. The first stiff and flexible elongated rod  122  has two opposite ends, each of which is secured to a different one of first tab  126  and the second tab  128 , which form a closure system. When the first tab  126  is secured to the second tab  128 , an extended portion  126  of the body member  110  is held away from the user&#39;s torso and forms the pouch  130  by a portion of the first stiff and flexible elongated rod  122 . The pouch  130  is configured to catch such things a spilled liquids and dropped food items therein. In one embodiment, the closure system includes complementary hook and loop fastener. Another closure system can include a cloth strap that is attached to a first side of the flexible body member and a grommet that is attached to a second side, opposite from the first side, of the flexible body member. The grommet defines a hole configure to receive the cloth strap therethrough. 
         [0020]    An optional second stiff and flexible elongated rod  124  may be embedded into the flexible body member  110  and spaced apart from the first stiff and flexible elongated rod  122 . The second stiff and flexible elongated rod  124  has two opposite ends. A portion of the second stiff and flexible elongated rod  124  is disposed adjacent to each of which is secured to a different one of first tab  126  and the second tab  128 . The first stiff and flexible elongated rod  122  defines the top of the pouch  130  and the second stiff and flexible elongated rod  124  can give it a more desirable shape. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment a pocket  300  is formed in the lower portion of the flexible body member  110 . The pocket  300  opens with a closure such as a zipper  302  (which can be disposed, for example, at the bottom of the flexible body member  110 , can be disposed along a side thereof or in the middle thereof), a hook and loop fastener or other similar fasters well known to those of skill in the art. The pocket  300  holds the collapsible support structure  120  therein so that the collapsible support structure  120  can be removed when the flexible body member  110  is washed. 
         [0022]    In one alternate embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the pocket can be formed by a flap  400  that can be closed (as shown in  FIG. 4A ) and secured, for example with snaps  402 , a hook and loop fastener and the like. 
         [0023]    Many different configurations of suitable collapsible support structures are possible, several of which are shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C . In  FIG. 5A , a two independent rod system  120   a  is shown and  FIG. 5B  shows a system  120   b  that includes two rods connected by a plurality of transverse rods that provide extra support to the pocket. A solid sheet plastic configuration  120   c  is shown in  FIG. 5C . 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a front side of one embodiment of a bib  600 .  FIGS. 7A-7D  show several views of a bib  600  according to one embodiment the invention in use. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, a bib according to the invention can be formed from a single plastic sheet and additional plastic in a single mold. 
         [0026]    The bib is designed to catch debris and can be used by babies, children, or adults. When worn, the lower section can be folded and attached behind the back to form a pocket. When not in use, the bib can be fully folded or wadded up and placed into a bag or left lying flat. The bib will again take its shape when worn. 
         [0027]    The bib may be shaped like an apron. It can be made from either one piece of material or a top &amp; bottom part, where the bottom part is in the shape of a half moon and the top part can have sleeves (short or long) or none at all. The sleeves may be cut as a part of the pattern (as one piece) then folded over to create a sleeve loop and sewn down to the main part of the bib. Two flexible (curved or straight) plastic rods may form the pouch. One rod may be attached to the outer rim. A second middle rod, located between the rim and waist, may also be sewn into the fabric for extra support and firmness. The two rods can meet and attach to the back straps. In one embodiment, wires from the rods extend into or onto the straps at least  1 . 5  inches to create the resistance to form the pocket. Slightly twisting the straps, which can be done in one motion with a flick of the wrists while attaching the back strap, can make the bib stand even further out because of the torque. 
         [0028]    One experimental embodiment was made using polyester covered boning for sewing as the rods. Such boning is often used in the sewing of a ladies corsets and the like. In this experimental embodiment, to construct the pocket, two identical half-moons were first cut out. Next, two strips of boning for the rim and mid sections were attached by sewing the polyester covering of the boning directly to the  1 st half moon, then attached the second moon to the first. Lastly, stitches were made both around the outer exterior and then also outlined the two rods so that there was not a large air pocket between the two half-moons. Bias tape was attached for esthetic purposes to create the orange edging around the bib. Other ways to attach the wire may be used, such as with bias tape or creating a pocket where the rods can slipped in. 
         [0029]    Other considerations include the fact that that the apron shape may be made as one piece or two (top and bottom half moon). One embodiment uses two strands of flexible material to form the pocket. However, more or fewer strands may be employed. In another embodiment, multiple smaller perpendicular rods may be used as support instead of the second curved rod. Any rod (straight to curved) attached to the rim, in which attaching causes the rod to curve 180 degrees may be used. Having rod(s) attached to the outer rim that attaches to straps which go behind the back may be employed. This facilitates the forming of the pouch when in use. 
         [0030]    The above described embodiments, while including the preferred embodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above.