Patent Publication Number: US-2022232904-A1

Title: Protective bib

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a protective garments, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a child&#39;s protective bib that is configured to be donned by a child in a high chair wherein the present invention protects the torso as well as inhibiting food and other objects from falling into the lap of the child. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Thousands of caretakers engage in regular daily routines when caring for small children and infants. Child care routine involves tasks such as but not limited to cleaning and feeding the child. For the latter, routine feeding can involve the utilization of a high chair once the child has reached a certain age. As is known in the art, a high chair incorporates a seating platform that has a height greater than that of a regular chair and the seating area has a releasably secured tray proximate thereto. As a child is in their development stages, the tray serves as a platform to place food wherein the food can be reached by the child and the child can then learn to feed themselves. Alternatively, the caretaker can also feed the child utilizing utensils while the child sits in the high chair. It is quite common that a bib will be placed on the torso of the child in order to protect the child&#39;s clothing so as to inhibit food or drink being spilled thereon. 
     One problem with conventional bibs is there configuration does not inhibit food or drink from being spilled on the lap of the child and further does not prevent food from falling between the child and the tray resulting in food debris commonly being found on the floor after a child feeding. Conventional protective bibs lay adjacent to the torso of the child and are secured around their neck. They further lack the ability to protect more areas of the child&#39;s garment such as but not limited to the sleeves thereof. 
     It is intended within the scope of the present invention to provide a protective bib that is configured to provide improved protection of a child&#39;s clothing during feeding and further inhibit food and other debris from falling in between the tray of a high chair and the child. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a protective bib that is operable to inhibit food and drink from contacting the clothing of a child that has donned the present invention wherein the present invention includes a body that is planar in manner. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is configured to be worn by a child and further be releasably secured to a portion of a high chair wherein the body of the present invention includes a first side and a second side. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is operable to inhibit food and drink from contacting the clothing of a child that has donned the present invention wherein the body includes an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion includes opposing arm members and a neck aperture. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is configured to be worn by a child and further be releasably secured to a portion of a high chair wherein the lower portion of the body includes opposing lateral longitudinal edges wherein the opposing lateral longitudinal edges have an increasing distance therebetween progressively towards the lower end of the body. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is operable to inhibit food and drink from contacting the clothing of a child that has donned the present invention wherein the lower end includes a first securing member on a first edge thereof. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is configured to be worn by a child and further be releasably secured to a portion of a high chair that further includes a second securing member secured to the second edge of the body proximate the lower end of the body. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is operable to inhibit food and drink from contacting the clothing of a child that has donned the present invention wherein the body is manufactured from a water resistant material such as but not limited to polyester. 
     An alternate object of the present invention is to provide a protective bib that is configured to be worn by a child and further be releasably secured to a portion of a high chair wherein it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that utilization thereof could extend to devices other than high chairs such as but not limited to strollers. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention during use in a high chair. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     References now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a protective bib  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. 
     It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic. 
     Now referring to the Drawings submitted as a part hereof, the protective bib  100  includes a body  10 . The body  10  is manufactured from a material such as but not limited to polyester. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the body  10  is configured to inhibit penetration of food and liquids therethrough so as to provide protection of a child&#39;s clothing during feeding or drinking activities. The body  10  includes a first side  11  and a second side  12 . The body  10  has a contiguously formed upper portion  15  and lower portion  20 . The body  10  is manufactured as a single piece utilizing suitable techniques. 
     The upper portion  15  of the body  10  includes a first arm member  25  and a second arm member  30 . The first arm member  25  extends outward from the body  10  having a distal end  26  wherein the distal end  26  includes an opening  27  allowing a hand  99  to be journaled therethrough. The first arm member  25  is configured to be of sufficient length to extend the length of the arm of the wearer so as to provide protection of any garment underneath that the child is wearing. While the first arm member  25  is illustrated herein as being a particular length, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first arm member  25  could be manufactured in alternate lengths. The first arm member  25  is tubular in shape being hollow so as to permit an arm to be journaled therein. 
     The upper portion  15  of the body  10  further includes a second arm member  30 . The second arm member  30  extends outward from the body  10  having a distal end  31  wherein the distal end  31  includes an opening  32  allowing a hand  98  to be journaled therethrough. The second arm member  30  is configured to be of sufficient length to extend the length of the arm of the wearer so as to provide protection of any garment underneath that the child is wearing. The second arm member  30  is formed on the opposing side of the body  10  from the first arm member  25 . It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the second arm member  30  is manufactured to a similar length as the first arm member  25  having an identical construction as well. 
     Intermediate the first arm member  25  and second arm member  30  along the upper edge  8  of the body  10  is the neck aperture  40 . The neck aperture  40  is configured to be of sufficient size so as to be releasably secured around a child&#39;s neck. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the neck aperture  40  could be releasably secured behind a child&#39;s neck utilizing a small piece of the body  10  that would employ a fastener such as but not limited to a hook and loop fastener. Additionally, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the neck aperture  40  is adjustable in size. 
     The body  10  includes a lower portion  20  having a first lateral longitudinal edge  50  and a second lateral longitudinal edge  60 . The first lateral longitudinal edge  50  and second lateral longitudinal edge  60  have a distance therebetween that increases approaching the lower end  7  of the body  10 . The aforementioned configuration of the first lateral longitudinal edge  50  and second lateral longitudinal edge  60  creates a shape of the body  10  that has a greater width proximate the lower end  7 . The greater width of the body  10  at the lower end  7  provides the ability for the body  10  to extend across the width of the tray  97  of the exemplary high chair  96 . This configuration inhibits the falling of food and other debris from falling onto the lap of the child as well as the floor underneath the high chair  96  and instead fall into pocket  77 . Conventional bibs do not provide this configuration and as such cannot achieve the desired functionality of inhibiting food and other debris from contacting the lap of the child or falling onto the floor. 
     Secured to the lower end  7  of the body  10  are a first securing member  65  and a second securing member  70 . The first securing member  65  and second securing member  70  are operable to releasable secure to the high chair  96  so as to position the pocket  77  of the lower portion  20  of the body  10  in a generally horizontal orientation thus inhibiting food and/or drink from egressing therepast. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the first securing member  65  and second securing member  70  are manufactured from a suitable material such as but not limited to nylon and could employ releasable securing fasteners such as but not limited to hook and loop fasteners. While a first securing member  65  and a second securing member  70  are illustrated and discussed herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the body  10  could have more or less than two securing members operable to secure the lower end  7  of the body  10  to a high chair  96  so as to maintain a section of the lower portion  20  in a generally horizontal position. 
     While the protective bib  100  has been discussed herein as being utilized in a high chair  96  during feeding of a child, it should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the protective bib  100  could be utilized in other devices such as but not limited to a stroller. Furthermore, the protective bib  100  could be worn by a child during alternate activities such as but not limited to painting. While the body  10  is illustrated herein as being tapered outward in shape, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the body  10  could have a consistent width or be formed in alternate shapes in order to achieve the desired objective discussed herein. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention.