Patent Publication Number: US-6990686-B2

Title: Protective garment for caregivers of infants and small children

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field 
   The present invention relates to protective clothing and, in particular, to a garment useful for protecting the clothing and body of a caregiver for an infant and a small child. 
   2. State of the Art 
   Persons caring for infants and small children may often be required to carry or hold the child. Liquid or semi-liquid materials on the child&#39;s face, hands, chest or clothing may be smeared or deposited on the caregiver&#39;s clothing or body. An infant who is bottle-feeding is held against the caregiver&#39;s shoulder or chest area for feeding, and drops of milk, juice or formula may drip out of the infant&#39;s mouth or the bottle and fall onto the caregiver. Also, after an infant has been fed from a bottle, a common practice is to burp the infant, causing it to expel air it has ingested while feeding. When the infant is burped, it may also expel a mixture of liquid and solid material. If the infant is positioned with its head at the shoulder of the caregiver, the mixture that is expelled from the baby on burping may flow with the force of gravity down the holder&#39;s chest or back. Liquids and liquid-containing materials can be transferred to the upper body or arms of a person holding a child in various other ways, including leakage from diapers, drooling, and vomiting. Persons charged with looking after animal babies, in zoos or veterinary hospitals, may have a similar experience with liquid and semi-liquid materials being deposited on their bodies and clothing. As a result, the clothing of the person holding the baby is soiled or stained. 
   To reduce the risk that clothing will be soiled or stained, persons holding babies use towels, aprons, blankets, folded cloth diapers and the like on the shoulder to protect their clothing. These coverings are not liquid resistant so that liquids will soak-through or transfer through the covering. In addition, these commonly used items are not of sufficient size to fully protect the caregiver. 
   Various other articles have been suggested for persons dealing with babies. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,617,105 describes a rectangular piece of flexible material that is draped over the caregiver&#39;s shoulder, but which leaves portions of the upper body uncovered and can be easily pushed aside. U.S. Pat. No. 2,563,420 describes a bib or combined bib and apron to be worn on the caregiver&#39;s shoulder or around the neck. U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,027 describes a disposable absorptive pad, to be placed on the wearer&#39;s shoulder and held in place by adhesive means. These articles are not suitable for use with heavier or bulky clothing such as jackets or suits, are not of sufficient dimension, do not take into account the gravitational flow of liquid materials, and are often awkward to put on and remove. This is especially troublesome for working fathers and mothers, and other caregivers, who wear professional clothing, and are asked to help with feeding an infant immediately before or after work while still wearing their professional clothing. 
   SUMMARY 
   An article of clothing inhibits the transfer of liquid from liquid-containing material in contact with the exterior of the article of clothing through the article of clothing to the interior of the article of clothing. The article of clothing includes a back sized to cover at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s upper body, the back having a length extending between about the top of wearer&#39;s shoulder area and at least about the wearer&#39;s waist. The back includes a back protective layer formed of a material inhibiting the transfer of liquid from the liquid-containing material, and the back protective layer extends between about the top of wearer&#39;s shoulder area and about at least the bottom of the lower shoulder area of the wearer. 
   The back also includes a back absorbing layer formed of a liquid-absorbing material to absorb liquid from the liquid-containing material. The back-absorbing layer is positioned external to the back protective layer and is sized to extend between about the top of wearer&#39;s shoulder area and about at least the lower shoulder area of the wearer. 
   The article of clothing further includes a front extending from the back toward the abdomen of the wearer and sized to cover at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s upper body, the front having a length extending between said back and about the upper abdomen of the wearer. The front includes a front protective layer formed of a material inhibiting the transfer of liquid from the liquid-containing material, the front protective layer extending from the back protective layer to about the upper abdomen area of said wearer, and a front absorbing layer formed of a liquid-absorbing material to absorb liquid from the liquid-containing material, the front absorbing layer being positioned external to the front protective layer and sized to extend from the back absorbing layer toward about the lower rib cage of the wearer. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the article of clothing, the back includes a back lining extending from about said wearer&#39;s shoulder area to the wearer&#39;s lower rib cage, the back lining being formed of a material having a coefficient of friction facilitating slidable movement of the article of clothing relative to wearer while donning and doffing the article of clothing. In a more preferred embodiment, the front of the article of clothing includes a front lining extending from the shoulder area of the wearer to about the lower rib cage of the wearer, the front lining being formed of a material having a coefficient of friction facilitating slidable movement of the article of clothing relative to the wearer while donning and doffing the article of clothing. In alternate configurations of this embodiment, the back lining is selected from a group consisting of silk, poly-silk, rayon, nylon, polyester, rayon blended with at least one other material, and polyester blended with at least one other material. 
   In another version, the article of clothing includes a sleeve attached to the front and the back proximate the shoulder of the wearer and extending away from the shoulder a sleeve distance extending at least over the elbow. In an alternate version, the sleeve distance of the article of clothing extends away from the shoulder to at least the wearer&#39;s wrist. In a further version, the article of clothing has two sleeves. 
   In further configurations, the front of the article of clothing has a width that extends about the width of the chest of the wearer, and the back has a width that extends about the width of the back of the wearer. In another embodiment, the front has a width that extends across the front of the wearer, wherein the front has a left edge and a right edge, and wherein the back has a width that extends across the back of the wearer and is joined to said front at said left edge and at said right edge to surround the body of the wearer. In one version, this embodiment can include a securing means for removably securing the article of clothing about the wearer. In another embodiment, the article of clothing has an upper edge and lower edge, with the upper edge positioned proximate the wearer&#39;s neck, and the securing means includes a split extending between the upper edge and the lower edge to create a first edge and a second edge, and includes also an attachment means for detachably attaching said first edge and said second edge. In a version of this embodiment, the attachment means is selected from a group consisting of at least one button and a corresponding button hole, the button hole sized to receive the button for attaching and detaching the first edge and the second edge; a hook and pile connector; a zipper; and at least two straps for attaching and detaching said first edge and said second edge. 
   In a highly preferred arrangement, a raised surface is provided above the back of said article of clothing to hinder a flow of liquid-containing material from a deposit of such material on the wearer&#39;s upper back, descending down the back of the article of clothing when the wearer&#39;s back is oriented in a generally upright orientation, said raised surface being positioned external to the back protective layer and the liquid absorbing layer, and extending substantially across the width of the back. In one version of this arrangement, the raised surface is a band, formed of liquid absorbing material and having a height of about 1/16 inch. In another preferred arrangement, the article of clothing includes a collar joined to the upper edge of the article, for releasably closing around the neck of the wearer to protect at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s neck area from deposits of liquid-containing material in the wearer&#39;s upper shoulder and chest area. 
   In further versions of the article of clothing, the length of the front and the length of the back both extend from the top of the wearer&#39;s shoulder area to at least about the wearer&#39;s upper thigh. In another version, the length of the front and the length of the back of the article of clothing extend to at least about the wearer&#39;s lower waist. In other aspects, the front protective layer and the front absorbing layer of the front of the article of clothing cover the entire area of the front, and the back protective layer and the back absorbing layer cover the entire area of the back. 
   In another version, one or both sleeves also has a layered structure, including a sleeve protective layer formed of material for inhibiting the transfer of liquid from the liquid-containing material, a sleeve absorbing layer to absorb liquid from said liquid-containing material deposited on said sleeve and being positioned external to the sleeve protective layer. In a preferred version, one or both sleeves also has a sleeve lining, formed of a material having a coefficient of friction to facilitate slidable movement of the sleeve relative to the wearer while donning and doffing the article of clothing, the sleeve lining being positioned internal to the sleeve protective layer. 
   In yet a further embodiment, the article of clothing is a jacket, including a front and a back and two sleeves, the length of the front and the length of the back extending between about the top of the wearer&#39;s shoulder area and at least about the wearer&#39;s upper thigh. The front and the back each include a protective layer, inhibiting the transfer of liquid-containing material, covered by an absorbing layer, for absorbing liquid from liquid-containing material, and a lining, internal to the protective layer, the lining formed of material having a coefficient of friction facilitating slidable movement of the article of clothing relative to the wearer when the wearer dons and doffs the article of clothing. The article of clothing also includes sleeves, for covering the wearer&#39;s right and left arms, joined to the front and the back, and extending away from the wearer&#39;s shoulder area a sleeve distance to about the wrist of the wearer. The sleeves also include a sleeve protective layer, a sleeve absorbing layer external to the sleeve protective layer, and a sleeve lining internal to the sleeve protective layer. The jacket includes a closeable collar for protecting the wearer&#39;s neck from deposits of liquid-containing material on the wearer&#39;s upper shoulder and chest area. In a further embodiment, the article of clothing has at least one pocket. 
   In a further and preferred arrangement, the jacket includes a raised surface joined to the back of the article of clothing, for hindering the movement of liquid deposited on the wearer&#39;s upper shoulder and flowing down the back of said article of clothing in response to the force of gravity when the wearer&#39;s back is oriented in a generally upright orientation. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a front planar view of an embodiment of the article of clothing of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1B  is a back planar view of the article of clothing of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 1C  is a top view of the article of clothing of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
       FIG. 1D  is a frontal perspective view of the article of clothing of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
       FIG. 1E  is a frontal perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an article of clothing of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front planar view of an alternate embodiment of an article of clothing of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a cross-section of a portion of a sleeve of the embodiment shown in FIG.  2 .; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a cross-section of a portion of an article of clothing depicting the front lining, front protective layer and front absorbing layer suitable for use in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of a portion of an article of clothing depicting the front lining, front protective layer and front absorbing layer. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1A  depicts the front  12  and  FIG. 1B  depicts the back  18  of an article of clothing  10  for inhibiting the transfer of liquid from liquid-containing material in contact with or deposited on the exterior  14  of the article of clothing  10  through the article of clothing  10  to the interior  16  of the article of clothing  10 . In  FIG. 1A , the exterior  14  of the front  12  includes a front protective layer  20  and a front absorbing layer  22 . Similarly, the back  18  includes a back protective layer  24  and a back absorbing layer  26 . 
   As better seen in  FIG. 1C , the back  18  is joined to the front  12  proximate and preferably at the top  28  of the wearer&#39;s shoulder. The back  18  and front  12  also may be joined by unitarily forming them from the same material. However, it is presently preferred to effect a joinder of the front  12  and back  18  by any suitable joining method including sewing, stapling, UV welding (depending on materials selected), gluing, snaps, buttons or any other method that effectively joins the front  12  and back  18  together. As here shown, a right shoulder seam  30  and a left shoulder seam  32  are formed by sewing. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1D , the front  12  and back  18  may also be joined at a right side  34  and a left side  36  by any suitable joining method including sewing, stapling or any other method that effectively joins the front  12  and back  18  together. As shown in  FIG. 1D , the front  12  and back  18  are joined by sewing which forms a right side seam  38  and a left side seam  40 . In an alternate arrangement, depicted in  FIG. 1E , the front  12  and back  18  are joined by sewing at the right shoulder seam  30  and left shoulder seam  32  while joinder at the side is optional and may be effected by tie strings  42  sized to be operable by the wearer to tie any suitable knot and also sized to be of sufficient length to accommodate individuals of different waist and chest size including those of much larger girth. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the back  18  is sized to cover at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s upper body, and has a length  44  extending between about the top  28  of the wearer&#39;s shoulder area and at least about the wearer&#39;s lower waist  45 . In another embodiment, the back  18  is sized differently, with a length  46  extending to about the wearer&#39;s upper waist  47 . In a further embodiment, the back  18  extends from about the top  28  of the wearer&#39;s shoulder area to about the wearer&#39;s upper thigh  51 . The front  12  extends from the back  18  toward the abdomen  49  of the wearer and is sized to cover at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s upper body, the front  12  having a length  48  extending between the back  18  and at least about the wearer&#39;s lower waist  45 . In another embodiment, the front  12  is sized differently, with a length  50  extending to about the wearer&#39;s upper waist  47 . In a further embodiment, the front  12  extends from the back  18  to at least about the wearer&#39;s upper thigh  51 . As depicted on  FIG. 1A , the front  12  has a width  52 , extending from the right side  34  to the left side  36  of the front  12 , covering the wearer&#39;s chest and abdomen area  49 , and as depicted in  FIG. 1B  the back  18  has a width  54 , covering the wearer&#39;s back. In other embodiments, each of the front  12  and back  18  may be sized to cover a smaller portion of the wearer&#39;s upper body, and may be of narrower design, with a smaller width. 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the front  12  and back  18  are joined at side seams  38  and  40 ; and the article of clothing  10  surrounds the girth of the wearer. In a preferred embodiment, the front  12  and back  18  of the article of clothing  10  are sized to provide the wearer with a loose fit, enabling the wearer to wear bulky clothing under the article of clothing  10 , including professional clothing such as a suit jacket. In a highly preferred embodiment, the front  12  and the back  18  are sized to loosely fit so that a person would be able to pull on the article and secure at least about ½ inch of open space between the interior  16  of the article of clothing  10  and the surface of the wearer&#39;s chest and abdomen  49 . 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the front absorbing layer  22  is external to the front protective layer  20 . The back absorbing layer  26  is also external to the back protective layer  24 . The back protective layer  24  is formed of a material inhibiting the transfer of liquid from liquid-containing material. The back protective layer  24  extends from about the top  28  of the wearer&#39;s shoulder area to the wearer&#39;s lower waist  45 , although in other embodiments the back protective layer  24  may extend a smaller distance to at least about the bottom of the lower shoulder area  53  of the wearer. The back absorbing layer  26  is formed of a liquid-absorbing material to absorb liquid from liquid-containing material that may be deposited on the article of clothing  10 . The back-absorbing layer  26  is sized to extend between about the top of the wearer&#39;s shoulder area and the wearer&#39;s lower waist  45 , although in other embodiments it may extend to about at least the lower shoulder area  53  of the wearer. 
   The front protective layer  20  is also formed of a material inhibiting the transfer of liquid from liquid-containing material. Referring to  FIG. 1A , the front protective layer  20  extends from the back protective layer  24  at the top  28  of the wearer&#39;s shoulder area to about the wearer&#39;s lower waist  45 , although in other embodiments it may extend to at least about the upper abdomen area  55  of the wearer. The front absorbing layer  22  is formed of a liquid-absorbing material to absorb liquid from liquid-containing material. The front absorbing layer  22  is sized to extend from the back absorbing layer  26  to about the wearer&#39;s lower waist  45  although in other embodiments it may be sized to extend to at least about the upper abdomen area  55  of the wearer. 
   In a preferred arrangement, the front protective layer  20  and front absorbing layer  22  are substantially coextensive, with the front protective layer  20  underlying every portion of front absorbing layer  22 , and so hindering the transfer of liquid on the surface of the front absorbing layer  22  through the article of clothing  10  to the wearer&#39;s body or to other clothing worn by the wearer. In a preferred arrangement, as depicted in  FIG. 1A , the outer edge of the front protective layer  20  extends beyond the outer edge of the front absorbing layer  22 . It should be noted that, in other embodiments the front  12  and back  18  of the article of clothing  10 , including the front protective layer  20  and the front absorbing layer  22 , and the back protective layer  24  and back absorbing layer  26 , extend further to cover and protect the upper leg and lap area of the wearer, with a length extending from the wearer&#39;s shoulder area to about the wearer&#39;s upper thigh  51 . 
   Any of a variety of materials resistant to the flow-through of liquid therethrough can be used to form the front protective layer  20  and back protective layer  24 . While there is no intention herein to limit the material used, in a preferred embodiment, the material used to form the front protective layer  20  and back protective layer  24  is a thin sheet of closed cell foam rubber, having a thickness of at least ⅛ inch. However, any of a variety of plastic or other synthetic materials resistant to the flow or transfer of moisture therethrough can be substituted. In a highly preferred arrangement, the material used is breathable, and resists a flow of liquid in one direction through the material but permits the flow-through and escape of vapor in the opposite direction through the material. 
   Similarly, any of a variety of materials that absorb liquid or moisture can be used to form the front absorbing layer  22  and the back absorbing layer  26 . In a preferred embodiment, the material used to form the front absorbing layer  22  and the back absorbing layer  26  is a cotton or cotton-synthetic blend, such as terrycloth or similar materials used for toweling, although there is no intention herein to limit the material used to these materials. Other natural or synthetic materials can be substituted, which have a characteristic of absorbing liquid or moisture. In a highly preferred arrangement, a loosely woven, knitted or textured cotton material, with an uneven surface, which absorbs fluid and physically hinders the flow of liquid along the surface of the materials, forms the front absorbing layer  22  and back absorbing layer  26 . 
     FIG. 2  depicts another embodiment of the article of clothing  110 , which includes a front  112  and back  118 , the front  112  having a front protective layer  120  and a front absorbing layer  122  external to the front protective layer  120 , and the back  118  having a back protective layer  124  and a back absorbing layer (not shown) external to the back protective layer  124 . The back  118  of the article of clothing  110  includes a back lining  156 , positioned internal to the back protective layer  124 . The back lining  156  extends from about the wearer&#39;s upper shoulder area  128  to about the wearer&#39;s lower waist  145 , having a length  148  and in other embodiments may have a shorter length  150  extending to at least about the wearer&#39;s lower rib cage  157 . In a further embodiment, the front  112  of the article of clothing  110  includes also a front lining  158 , positioned internal to the front protective layer  120 . The front lining  158  has a length  148 , extending from about the wearer&#39;s upper shoulder area  128  to about the wearer&#39;s lower waist  145 , although in other embodiments the front lining  158  may have a shorter length  150  extending to at least about the wearer&#39;s lower rib cage. The front lining  158  and back lining  156  are each formed of a material having a coefficient of friction facilitating slidable movement of the article of clothing  110  relative to the wearer while the wearer is donning and doffing the article of clothing  110 . In a preferred arrangement, the material from which the front lining  158  and back lining  156  are formed is selected from a group consisting of silk, poly-silk, rayon, nylon, polyester, rayon blended with at least one other material, and polyester blended with at least one other material. There is no intention to limit the material used in the back and front linings,  156 ,  158 , to the aforementioned list of materials so long as the coefficient of friction is such that the article of clothing is slidable and easy to don and doff. 
   In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the article of clothing  110  includes a right sleeve  160  covering the wearer&#39;s right arm. The right sleeve  160  is attached to the front  112  and the back  118  proximate the right shoulder of the wearer. Attachment may be effected by sewing, glueing or other means as hereinbefore mentioned. The right sleeve  160  extends from the wearer&#39;s right shoulder to at least the wearer&#39;s right wrist, although in other embodiments it may extend a shorter distance, at least over the right elbow of the wearer. In a further embodiment, the article of clothing  110  includes a left sleeve  162  covering the wearer&#39;s left arm. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the left sleeve  162  is attached to the front  112  and the back  118  proximate the left shoulder of the wearer by any suitable means such as sewing. The left sleeve  162  extends away from the wearer&#39;s left shoulder to at least the wearer&#39;s left wrist, although in other embodiments, a shorter left sleeve  162 , extending at least over the wearer&#39;s elbow, is used. In yet other embodiments, the article of clothing  110  is sleeveless, or has short sleeves extending from the wearer&#39;s shoulder a distance between the wearer&#39;s shoulder and elbow. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , in a preferred embodiment, the front  112  and back  118  of the article of clothing  110  are joined at side seams  138 ,  140 , and shoulder seams  130 ,  132 , and with sleeves  160 ,  162 , form a jacket arrangement. 
   In a preferred embodiment and referring to  FIG. 2 , the right sleeve  160  and left sleeve  162  are each formed with a layered structure, including a right sleeve protective layer  164 , and left sleeve protective layer  166 , formed of material for inhibiting the flow of liquid from liquid-containing material deposited on the sleeve, and a right sleeve absorbing layer  168  and a left sleeve absorbing layer  170 , formed of material for absorbing liquid from liquid-containing material deposited on the sleeves  160 ,  162 . The right and left sleeve absorbing layers  168 ,  170  are both positioned external to the right and left sleeve protective layers,  164 ,  166 , respectively. 
   In a more preferred embodiment, each of the right and left sleeves also includes a lining, formed of a material having a coefficient of friction to facilitate slidable movement of the sleeve relative to the wearer while donning and doffing the article of clothing. The right sleeve lining is positioned internal to the right sleeve protective layer  164  and the left sleeve lining is positioned internal to the left sleeve protective layer  166 . The right and left sleeve linings extend from the top of the respective right and left sleeves  160 ,  162  at the wearer&#39;s shoulders, to at least about the wearer&#39;s elbow area on each arm. In another version, the sleeve linings extend farther to about the wearer&#39;s wrist area of the respective right or left arm. 
     FIG. 3  provides an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the right sleeve  160  of  FIG. 2 , showing the right sleeve protective layer  164 , the right sleeve absorbing layer  168 , and the right sleeve lining  196 . In the present embodiment, the left sleeve lining has a similar structure and configuration to the right sleeve lining and it is therefore not felt necessary to depict its arrangement. 
   In a further embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 2 , the article of clothing  110  includes securing means for removably securing the article of clothing about the wearer. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the front  112  of the article of clothing  110  has an upper edge  172  and a lower edge  174 , the upper edge  172  positioned proximate the wearer&#39;s neck. In this arrangement, the front  112  is divided into two pieces, forming a first edge  180  and a second edge  182 , and the securing means is comprised of the first edge  180  and the second edge  182  and an attachment means for detachably attaching the first edge  180  and the second edge  182 . In a preferred arrangement, the attachment means is a button  190  on the first edge  180  and a corresponding buttonhole  192  on the second edge  182 , for releasably securing the first edge  180  to the second edge  182 . More than one button and buttonhole can be used, and other attachment means, including hook and pile connector systems and zippers, can be substituted for the button and buttonhole arrangement. In a highly preferred embodiment, the button  190  is at least one inch in diameter, and the buttonhole  192  is sized with the length of the buttonhole  192  at least ¾ inch larger than the diameter of the button  190 , facilitating ease of fastening the button within the buttonhole. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2 , in yet another embodiment, the article of clothing  110  includes a collar  194  joined to the upper edge  172  and the back  118  for releasably closing around the neck of the wearer to protect at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s neck area from deposits of liquid-containing material in the wearer&#39;s upper shoulder and neck area. In a preferred arrangement, the collar  194  is formed of a material that inhibits the transfer of liquid from liquid-containing material, and includes a flap that lies flat on the article of clothing when not in use but that can be lifted up and folded around the wearer&#39;s neck when in use. 
   In another embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 2 , the article of clothing  110  includes a pocket  196 , attached to the front absorbing layer  122 . In a preferred embodiment, the pocket  196  is large, having a width of at least about 4 inches and a height of at least about 4 inches, to accommodate items such as feeding bottles, and is located on the lower portion of the article of clothing  110 . The pocket  196  is formed of a single piece of material, a first portion of which is attached to the front absorbing layer  122  by any suitable means such as sewing, leaving a second portion unattached, such second portion and first portion forming an enclosure open on one end for holding or storing articles or items. Other embodiments include more than one pocket. 
   In a further embodiment, and referring to  FIG. 1B , the article of clothing  10  includes a raised surface  35  on the back absorbing layer  26 , that physically impedes the flow of liquid and liquid-containing materials downward on the back when the wearer is in an upright orientation. In a preferred arrangement, the raised surface  35  is a band of material of at least ⅛″ inch in height above the surface of the back absorbing layer  26 , that extends substantially across the back  18  of the article of clothing. Other arrangements of the raised surface  35  include the use of multiple bands of material extending across the width of the back. 
     FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the front  112  of the article of clothing  110  depicted in  FIG. 2 , showing the exterior  114  of the article of clothing  110 , the front absorbing layer  122 , the front protective layer  120 , the front lining  158 , and the interior  116  of the article of clothing  110 . When liquid-containing material is deposited on the exterior  114 , liquid from the liquid-containing material soaks into the front absorbing layer  122 , but is substantially prevented from transferring through the front  112  to the interior  116 . In a preferred embodiment, the front absorbing layer  122 , front protective layer  120 , and front lining  158  are in loose contact and are attached only at seam lines of the article of clothing, such as the side seams  138 ,  140 , and shoulder seams  130 ,  132 , depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     FIG. 5  depicts an enlarged cross-sectional view of another layered arrangement of a portion of the front  112  of the article of clothing  110  depicted in  FIG. 2 , in which the front protective layer  120  is a thin layer that is adheringly attached to the interior surface  115  of the front absorbing layer  122 , and the front lining  158  is positioned internal to the front protective layer  120 , but is only attached to the front protective layer  120  at one or more seam lines of the article of clothing  10 . Any of a variety of layered arrangements, with varying thicknesses, composition, and methods for attaching the layers, may be substituted for the two arrangements specifically described herein, including lamination, and layered fabric construction, and the description herein is not intended to limit the approaches that may be taken. The layered structures depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5  also are used with the back  118  and sleeves  160 ,  162  of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
   It will be understood by those familiar with the art that the article of clothing depicted herein in its various embodiments will be sized for various body shapes and sizes according to standards typically followed in the garment industry. The description of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which follow.