Patent Publication Number: US-8117669-B2

Title: Bib-scarf system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently there are a plethora of bibs. All are intended to protect the article below the bib from being soiled. Most of the bibs are planar and of a fixed size and must be attached around the neck of the wearer. The problem with the planar shape is that it allows for the drool from the wearer to drip down the chin and onto the wearer. The problem with attaching the bib around the neck is twofold. First, the wearer, if a baby of 3 months or older, pulls the bib either off or turns it around where it no longer provides adequate protection and, secondly, the neck size is different and thus is either too small or too large. 
     There are products to address the planar concern. I cite U.S. Pat. No. 7,269,856. This bib creates a non planar bib by sewing a section of filled material on a traditional planar bib. While this may address the food and drool from sliding down the bib, it does not address the adjustability of the material to be draped directly around the neck and up under or on the chin which is needed when bottle feeding, to prevent the drool from sliding around the mouth and down the side of the upper neck. In summary it is a static crescent form and thus not adjustable horizontally or vertically as needed. 
     The problem with attaching the bib around the neck has been solved by either creating a garment with an attached bib, (Cite U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,216,269 7,032,247) or by using a pullover bib which has a front and back with a neck opening. It is pulled over the head like a tee shirt. The pull over bib comes in an assortment of materials and sizes. The problem with the bib that pulls over the head is that the wearer must be somewhat upright to pull the bib off. It is also limited to pulling it off from the back to the front or the spills on the front go all over the face and head of the user. The problem with attaching the bib to the garment in both patents cited above is that each garment must be modified to accept the bib. The bib scarf system allows for the bib scarf to be attached to a bib which can be worn all day with any garment and only the bib scarf will be removed after feedings or, if one chooses, the underlying garment (see  FIG. 14 ) can be removed easily. There is no need for adapting each individual garment to accept a bib. The bib-scarf system works with either a neck strap for adults (see  FIG. 11 ) or without a neck strap (see  FIG. 14 ) for use with babies and to be used easily in a car seat with a harness (see  FIG. 15   d ) 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES 
     The present invention came about as a solution to have a bib that would readily adjust under the chin and around the neck to keep drool off the neck and chin and the subsequent wetting of the garment around the neck It was also the purpose of the invention to be a bib that is flexible and adjustable in size of width and length by merely adjusting the amount of material pulled through the center opening as well as the ability to spread the material out horizontally or pleat it by hand for a more narrow profile. It was the purpose of the invention to be simple to make with little sewing and few parts. 
     As shown in the drawings section, these objectives were rendered by the simple invention of a piece of material (for inventor&#39;s use, a piece of absorbable soft birds eye weave fabric was used), cut into an 18″ by 24″ rectangle followed by a 4″ by ½″ horizontal cut in the middle of the fabric. The top of the fabric is then simply pulled through the opening and is adjusted to fluff up and provide a nonplanar bib. The third item needed in the invention is a strap to traverse through the horizontal opening and the fold where the top half of the material has been pulled through the said opening. It was also the purpose of the invention to have the option of being attached to the wearer without having to actually go around the circumference of the neck of the wearer. This feature is the preferred embodiment. The ability to attach the bib-scarf to a pre-made cute outer garment with a strap allows the bib-scarf to be efficiently used with a 5 point harness child carrier without having to be tied around the neck of the baby with snaps, Velcro, buttons or a string. These types of bibs always tend to shift in transport or are pulled off by the baby. In addition, they tend to get caught under the harness straps and do not provide protection of drool on the harness. As shown in  FIGS. 15-15D , the bib-scarf system can be worn, and removed, with the child strapped in the harness. There is no attachment around the neck to worry about and the bib-scarf can be changed as often as needed without removing the child. In addition, the system of making the bib-scarf allows for multiple types of fabric and sizes. For example, one could use a soft flannel material which would provide warmth as well as protection from drool when draped over the child in the car seat as shown in  FIG. 15D . The system would keep the “blanket” bib-scarf from sliding off as the child is transported in the carrier. 
     In summary, the present invention is not about the type of material used or the dimensions of the fabricated materials, but about the invention of a method to create a nonplanar, adjustable, flexible bib that can be used with or without going around the circumference of the neck of the wearer. The invention is so simple and only requires a piece (or pieces) of fabric with a horizontal opening and a strap to traverse through the opening and the fold of the material pulled through the opening. The method of fabrication and use is simple and flexible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1-FIG .  4  depicts one method of creating a horizontal opening in a piece of rectangular fabric by cutting the opening in a single piece of fabric. In addition to creating the necessary opening, it also depicts how the opening defines a top half of material which resides above the opening and a bottom half of material which resides below the opening. 
         FIG. 5A-FIG .  5 B depicts an alternative way of creating a horizontal opening in a piece of rectangular fabric by using two pieces of fabric and sewing them together to create an opening. 
         FIG. 6A-FIG .  8  depicts a method of positioning a strap and pulling the top half of the fabric through the opening and catching the strap. 
         FIG. 9  depicts the fabric securely attached to the strap. 
         FIG. 10  depicts the fabric adjusted so as to fluff it up around the wearer&#39;s neck 
         FIG. 11  depicts one way of attaching the bib to the wearer by using the strap as a necklace. 
         FIG. 12  depicts a method of attaching the strap to itself, thus creating a necklace. 
         FIG. 13  depicts an outer garment with a removable strap that allows the bib to be attached without going around the neck of the wearer. 
         FIG. 14  depicts how the strap is slid through the opening of the fabric after the top half of the fabric has been pulled through the opening. This is an alternative way of catching the strap as the top half of the material is pulled through the horizontal opening of the fabric prior to catching the strap as depicted in  FIG. 6A-FIG .  8   
         FIG. 15-15D  depicts a preferred use of the bib-scarf system. It utilizes the bib garment in  FIG. 14 . The strap is unsnapped on one side and the fabric, which already has the top half pulled through the opening, is slid through the opening. The carrier harness is then secured and the bib-scarf is adjusted to spread out over the neck and body of the child. The bib-scarf also covers the harness keeping it clean from dribble and drool. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a single piece of fabric material ( 1 ). The material can vary, as the invention is about the process and not the type of fabric. For purposes of baby bibs, I prefer an absorbent cotton or cotton polyester blend. The fabric ( 1 ) is cut to a rectangular shape. The size and shape can vary. For purposes of baby bibs, I prefer a width of 18 inches and a length of 24 inches. 
       FIG. 2  shows the fabric ( 1 ) folded in half. 
       FIG. 3  depicts an opening ( 4 ) made in the fabric. The opening ( 4 ) can vary in size. I prefer a 4 inch opening ( 4 ) made 15 inches from the top of the folded fabric ( 1 ) on a piece of fabric 18″ wide and 24″ long. 
       FIG. 4  shows fabric ( 1 ) unfolded. The opening ( 4 ) separates the fabric ( 1 ) into a top portion ( 2 ) and a bottom portion ( 3 ). 
       FIG. 5A  shows an alternative method of creating a top and bottom portion of fabric with an opening ( 4 ) in the middle of the fabric. This is a way to allow 2 different types of fabric or the same fabric with the front and back reversed to come together with an opening ( 4 ) in the middle. The top portion ( 5 ) is placed facing the bottom portion ( 6 ). 
       FIG. 5B  shows the top portion of fabric ( 5 ) stitched ( 9 ) together with the bottom portion of fabric ( 6 ) creating the opening ( 4 ). 
       FIG. 6A  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 4  placed over a horizontal band of material ( 7 ) with the opening ( 4 ) centered left to right on the band of material ( 7 ). 
       FIG. 6B  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 5B  placed over the horizontal band of material ( 7 ). 
       FIG. 7  shows the process of taking the left and right sides of the top portion of fabric ( 2 ) or ( 5 ) and gathering both sides toward the middle of top portion of fabric ( 2 ) or ( 5 ). 
       FIG. 8  shows the gathered piece of top fabric ( 2 ) or ( 5 ) folded back on itself and pulled behind and under the band of material ( 7 ) and through the opening ( 4 ). 
       FIG. 9  shows the top portion of fabric ( 2 ) or ( 5 ) resting securely on the band ( 7 ) and on top of the bottom portion of the fabric ( 3 ) or  6 ). 
       FIG. 10  shows the top portion of the fabric ( 2 ) or ( 5 ) pulled back through the opening ( 4 ) to allow for more area of the top portion of fabric ( 2 ) or ( 5 ) to be above the band ( 7 ) if desired. 
       FIG. 11  shows the band of material ( 7 ) attached to itself with some type of attachment ( 8 ). This embodiment is one way of wearing the bib-scarf. The bib-scarf can now be worn around the neck of the wearer as shown assembled in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 12  is an example of a band of material ( 7 ) with an attachment ( 8 ) creating a circular neck band. In this embodiment Velcro was used at the ends of a soft terry cloth band of material. Any type of material and fasteners can be used. 
       FIG. 13  is an alternate embodiment of a band of material ( 7 ). This shows the band of material ( 7 ) attached to a garment ( 11 ) instead of attached to itself as in  FIG. 12 . In  FIG. 13  the band is attached to the garment ( 10 ) either permanently as stitched down or removable as in snaps, buttons, or Velcro. For bib purposes I prefer to have at least one side removable from the garment ( 11 ) (such as a snap ( 10 ) so that the bib can slide on and off the band of material ( 7 ) horizontally prior and after use instead of pulling it back through the opening ( 4 ). This keeps it out of the wearer&#39;s face should the garment be on the wearer. 
       FIG. 14  shows the fabric ( 2 ) or ( 5 ) pulled behind the band ( 7 ) and through the opening ( 4 ) and resting on the bottom portion of the fabric ( 3 ) or ( 6 ). Although  FIG. 14  shows the top portion of the fabric ( 2 ) or ( 5 ) resting narrowly above the band ( 7 ), the top portion ( 2 ) or ( 5 ) can be pulled up and expanded both horizontally and vertically above the band ( 7 ) for more coverage of the horizontal top part of the garment ( 11 ). This is part of the simplicity and flexibility of the bib-scarf system. 
       FIG. 15A  represents how the product can be used in a car seat harness ( 12 ). It shows only the bib component of the bib-scarf system ( 11 ) as used in conjunction with a typical 5-point harness car seat ( 12 ). This drawing depicts step one of installing the product in the car seat harness ( 12 ) with said harness system ( 12 ) shown unfastened, showing only the bib component of the bib-scarf system ( 11 ) (having the strap of material ( 7 ) which is held in place by the two fasteners ( 10 )) having been already placed on the wearer. 
       FIG. 15B  represents step two and shows the scarf component ( 2 )( 5 )( 3 )( 6 ) of the bib-scarf system ( 11 ) already drawn through it&#39;s own opening ( 4 ) and then properly tucked behind the band of material ( 7 ) (which is attached to the bib-scarf system ( 11 ) by way of fasteners ( 10 )) as previously depicted in  FIG. 14 . As in  FIG. 15A  the harness system ( 12 ) is shown unfastened and, for illustrative purposes, the scarf portion ( 2 )( 5 )( 3 )( 6 ) is shown bundled together and pulled to the side. 
       FIG. 15C  represents exactly what is shown in  FIG. 15B  except that it shows the 5-point harness system ( 12 ) in its fastened position. 
       FIG. 15D  represents the completed installation, showing the top portion of the scarf ( 2 ) ( 5 ) of the bib-scarf system ( 11 ) drawn through the opening ( 4 ) and then pulled out and expanded widely as it rests on the bottom portion of the scarf ( 3 ) ( 6 ) of the bib-scarf system ( 11 ), which also has been expanded to a width appropriate to the width of the wearer.