Patent Publication Number: US-2010107294-A1

Title: Protective Cover

Description:
INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION  
     This invention relates to fabric compositions adapted for simultaneous absorption and resistance to water-based food products and in particular, to a machine washable and dryable fabric adapted for use to the manufacture of protective garments for use with infants including babies bibs, cot covers, mattress protectors etc; and general protective covers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     Feeding and care of infants involves a constant assault on the clothing and environment of an infant with food, drink and associated products which the infant constantly soils not only itself, but the surrounding environment and clothing worn by the infant. Baby bibs, mattress covers and protective sheets are a common barrier to this phenomena and whilst readily available bibs and other products provide a welcome barrier, generally available baby bibs and similar protective garments and covers are made from PVC based products, which excludes them from ready machine washability and tumble drying. Accordingly, the readily available clothing barriers and protective covers for infants are neither easy to clean, maintain or hygienically sanitize. One object of the current invention is to provide a fabric adapted for use in garments and covers of the type described above. 
     STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
     In a first aspect the invention provides a multi-layered fabric comprising a first base layer including a polymer exhibiting high temperature tolerance and water resistance; said polymer being laminated with a cotton and/or polyester layer adapted for comfortable contact with human skin, a second layer including a water absorbent anti-fungal antibacterial layer comprising a blend of cotton and hemp and a third layer including a decorative liquid transmitting layer wherein said multi-layered fabric is adapted for machine washing and drying. 
     The third layer may include any water and/or liquid absorbent material including cotton, hemp etc. The third layer may be a cotton quilted to a thin layer of polyester filling. 
     The second layer may include a hemp/cotton blend and most preferably include a blend of 55% hemp to 45% cotton. 
     The first layer may include a polymeric lamination to a cotton and/or polyester layer wherein the polymer imparts structural integrity to a product made from said fabric. The polyester is most preferably sufficiently resistant to high temperature and water to readily allow any product made from the fabric of the invention to withstand machine washing and heated tumble drying. 
     In another aspect the invention provides an article of clothing including the fabric of the invention. The article of clothing may be a baby (new born) bib, infant bib, adult bib or protective apron. 
     In another aspect the invention provides an article including the fabric of the invention including protective covers, mats, protectors, car seat protectors and linen savers. 
     The polymeric first layer may be selected from a range of proprietary products including V-CARE® being a launderable barrier fabric available from VINTEX Inc. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       The invention will be described with reference to the following figures, which provide one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of the various components of the multi-layered fabric of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows an infant fitted with a bib manufactured from the fabric of the invention, with the fabric shown separated into its various layers. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of a baby wearing a bib manufactured from the fabric of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a babies bib with the various layers of the fabric separated for clarification. 
         FIG. 5  shows a change mat made from the fabric of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows a “nappy off” mat made from the fabric of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a play pen mat made from the fabric of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows a car seat protector made from the fabric of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows a linen saver made from the fabric of the invention. 
     
    
    
     The invention will be described in respect of the bib embodiment in detail but extends to a wide range of other fabric based product. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the multi-layered fabric of the invention includes a first or principle base layer  1 , which includes a polymer foundation  2  wherein the polymer foundation provides the principle physical strength whilst exhibiting high temperature tolerance and water resistance to the fabric. The polymer is laminated with a cotton and/or polyester layer  3  on the underside thereof, wherein the polyester and/or cotton layer is adapted for placement against the human skin and is adapted to provide non-abrasive contact to the human skin, so as to provide comfort when a garment or wearable article made of the fabric of the invention, is brought into contact with the human skin. A second layer  4  of the multi-layered fabric is applied to the first layer, either by gluing, stitching or any means appropriate to the construction of the garment or wearable piece of apparel. The second layer provides the primary absorptive function of the fabric and is particularly adapted to absorb moisture spilt on the garment and is provided with anti-fungal and anti-bacterial performance. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second layer may be made up of a blend of hemp and cotton, most preferably in a ratio of 55% hemp to 45% cotton. 
     The third layer  5  of fabric is provided for primarily decorative purposes and is overlaid over the top of the second layer and can be fixed thereto either by adhesion or by sewing or any other means so as to provide the multi-layer fabric of the invention. The decorative layer can be made of cotton, hemp or any other material, providing the material is able to transmit moisture and water through to the second layer. The decorative layer may preferably include quilted cotton using a polyester filling. 
     The fabric of the invention can be used for a wide range of applications including bedding, clothing and other uses and referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , one particular embodiment of the invention is shown as a babies bib wherein  FIG. 2  shows a bib fitted to an infant with the various layers separated for illustrative purposes only. The first base layer  1  is shown with the polymer component providing the necessary temperature resistance, water resistance and being laminated to a cotton and/or polyester layer  3  on the underside thereof, which is adapted to bear down for contact on the infant&#39;s skin. In this manner, the first layer of the fabric provides the necessary physical strength and care functions of the fabric and also provides a comfortable and appropriate surface for touching an infant&#39;s skin. The second layer  4  includes the necessary absorptive features of the garment and finally, the third layer  5  provides a decorative cover for the garment of appeal to an infant. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side view of an infant wearing the garment in the form of a bib is shown, where the various layers are shown separated from each other for purely illustrated purposes. 
     The first and base layer of the multi-layered fabric of the invention, can be prepared from any suitable polymeric material and can include for example, proprietary brand products including V-CARE® being a registered trade mark of VINTEX Inc. Similar products having similar performance characteristics are available and can be adapted to provide the first base layer of the fabric of the invention. 
     The invention provides a multi-layered fabric readily adapted for use in the manufacture range of infant care apparel and associated products including bedding protective covers, babies bibs, clothing etc. The fabric provides a readily serviceable item which is comfortable upon contact with an infant&#39;s delicate skin but also readily absorbs the type of soiling often experienced with young infants in a manner to absorb such soiling whilst preventing moisture from penetrating the fabric by virtue of the water resistance of the polymeric layer. The second layer provides highly desirable anti-bacterial and anti-fungal characteristics so as to ensure the hygienic characteristics of garments and other items manufactured with the fabric of the invention and the performance characteristics of the multi-layered fabric ensure that such products can be readily machine washed and subjected to tumble drying without shrinkage or damage in any way. These features provide highly desirable characteristics for frequently soiled products like babies bibs which can be easily thrown into a washing machine and a tumble dryer and made ready for repeated use in a very short period of time. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.