Abstract:
An apron ( 10 ) is provided having a lap panel ( 11 ) and a torso panel ( 12 ). The lap panel has a foldable, rigid lap plate ( 17 ) which may be folded or maintained in a planar, locked position by a locking mechanism ( 40 ). The lap panel also has three peripheral pouches ( 32 ), ( 33 ), and ( 34 ) which aid in capturing waste.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to aprons, and specifically to aprons which are worn by a wearer in a seated position so as to support food thereon. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is common to consume food and beverages in a seated position. Typically, the food is supported upon a table under which the legs of a consumer are positioned. As such, the table provides a rigid support structure which is unencumbered by movement of the consumer. 
     Today however, many consumers eat their meals while seated or even driving in their cars. Such a situation does not lend itself to the use of a table. Therefore, some consumers have simply utilized a napkin positioned upon their lap to protect the lap from spills associated with the food items. This however does not protect the upper torso from spills. 
     Aprons have been designed which protect not only the lap area but also the upper torso of a consumer in a seated position, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,692. These aprons are typically made of a flexible sheet material. While these aprons provide protection from spills they are not designed to support food thereon in a stable manner. 
     Aprons have also been designed which incorporate a tray designed to support food, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,479. These trays however are not designed to collect the spilled food once a consumer has finished his or her meal. As such, crumbs or the like are likely to fall to the side of the consumer when the apron is removed. 
     Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for an apron which not only protects a consumer from spillage but also collects the spilled food. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred form of the invention an apron comprises a torso panel and a lap panel extending from the torso panel, both of which are made of a flexible sheet material. A lap plate configured to be reciprocally folded along a fold between a folded condition and a generally, planar, unfolded condition is coupled to the lap panel. The apron also includes lock means for locking the lap plate in the unfolded condition and unlocking the lap plate to allow the lap plate to be moved to a folded condition. With this construction and with the lap plate in its locked, unfolded condition the apron lap panel is provided with an underlying rigid, planar surface upon which items may be supported, and whereby with the unlocking of the lap plate the lap panel may be folded to gather and confine waste upon the lap panel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apron embodying principles of the present invention in a preferred form. 
     FIG. 2 a perspective view of the apron of FIG. 1, shown worn by a consumer. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apron of FIG. 1, shown being folded. 
     FIGS. 4-6 are a sequence of plan views showing the apron of FIG. 1, which show in sequence, the apron being folded. 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of a portion of the apron of FIG. 1 taken along plane  7 — 7 . 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of an apron in another preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference next to the drawings, there is shown an apron  10  having a lap panel  11  and a co-extending torso panel  12 , the lap panel  11  and torso panel  12  being made of a flexible sheet material. The torso panel  12  includes an adjustable neck strap  13 . 
     The lap panel  11  has a sleeve  16  in which a lap plate  17  is removably mounted through an unshown closeable end opening in the sleeve. The lap plate  17  is of a size and shape so that the lap panel  11  includes a right side margin  19 , a left side margin  20 , and a bottom margin  21  all extending beyond the peripheral edges of the underlying lap plate. The right and left margins  19  and  20  each include a first pair of mating hook and loop type fasteners  24  and  25 , and a second pair of hook and loop type fasteners  26  and  27 . Two third pairs of hook and loop type fasteners  28  and  29  are mounted to the lap panel with one fastener  28  of each pair mounted to the underside of the lap panel generally opposite and above second fastener  26  and the other fastener  29  of each pair mounted to the underside of the bottom margin  21  adjacent the lower corner. With the fasteners  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 , and  29  all mateably coupled, the lap panel  11  is folded so that the right side margin  19  forms a right edge pouch  32 , the left side margin  20  forms a left edge pouch  33 , and the bottom margin  21  forms a bottom edge pouch  34 . The pouches  32 ,  33  and  34  all have top openings adjacent the edge of the lap plate  17 . 
     The lap plate  17  has a left portion  36  and a right portion  37  coupled to the left portion  36  along a hinge  38 . A locking mechanism  40  is mounted to the left and right portions  36  and  37  which allows relative hinged movement while in the unlocked position but prevents hinged movement while in the locked position. The locking mechanism includes a pair of bifurcated guide rails  42  and a locking plate  43  mounted for reciprocal movement along the guide rails  42 . A pair of stops  46  limit the longitudinal movement of the locking plate  43  along the rails  42 . The locking plate  43  is accessible through an unshown finger opening extending through sleeve  16 . 
     In use, a consumer dons the apron  10  similarly to conventional aprons with the neck strap  13  wrapped about the neck, the torso panel  12  draped over the torso and the lap panel  13  draped over the lap. With the locking plate  43  in its locking position, as shown in FIG. 7, the lap plate  17  provides a rigid supporting upon the lap of the seated consumer, allowing food to be supported thereon. The respective mating of the first, second and third pair of fasteners provide the peripheral side and bottom pouches depending down from and about the underlying lap plate and about the lap of a consumer. 
     Should the consumer eating a meal produce crumbs, or other types of waste or spills, such crumbs will land upon the torso or lap panels of the apron rather than upon the consumer&#39;s clothing. These crumbs may then naturally roll off the portion of the lap panel overlying the lap plate or be manually brushed off this portion and into either the peripheral bottom pouch  34  or one of the peripheral side pouches  32  or  33 . As such, the apron collects the crumbs rather than allowing them to chance to roll off the apron and onto the underlying flooring or seat. 
     Once the consumer has completed his or her meal the consumer may slide the locking plate  43  to its unlocked position, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 7, thereby allowing the lap plate  17  to be folded upon itself, as shown in FIG.  2 . The folding of the lap plate forces any crumbs remaining on the lap panel  11  to be gathered along the central crease C formed by the folding of the lap plate. The folding also encloses viscous spills, such as ketchup, mustard or grease, between the folds of the lap panel. As such, only the clean underside of the apron is exposed thereby preventing the exposure of the soiled material. 
     Referring next to FIGS. 4-6, with both the lap panel  11  and torso panel  12  folded longitudinally any crumbs on the apron are captured between the two folds, as shown in FIG.  4 . The right and left side margins  19  and  20  are then wrapped about the adjacent sides edges of the lap plate to prevents crumbs from falling out from between the sides of the folded apron, as shown in FIG.  5 . The bottom margin  21  is then similarly wrapped about the bottom edges of the lap plate and the torso panel wrapped about the upper edges of the lap plate, as shown in FIG.  6 . It should be understood that as the lap plate is actually enclosed within the lap panel all references to wrapping the apron about the edge of the lap plate is meant to include the apron material encasing the lap panel. 
     As the lap plate is mounted within sleeve  16  for easy removal, the rigid lap plate may be removed so that the remaining portion of the apron may be conventionally washed. Also, the fasteners  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  and  29  may be uncoupled to allow a thorough washing of the pouches  32 ,  33  and  34 . Once washed, the lap plate is then reinserted into the sleeve prior to use. 
     Referring next to FIG. 8, there is shown an apron  50  in another preferred embodiment. Here, the apron  50  has a right edge pouch  52  and a left edge pouch  53 , which are fixed rather than being releasably formed. It should also be noted that a strap  55  extends across the top edges of the pouch to prevent the outer edge of the pouch from folding down should a large amount of material be captured within the pouch, i.e. the limiting strap allows for limited opening of the pouch. The lap plate  57  has a trapezoidal shape to accommodate the legs of a person which are normally somewhat separated. 
     While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of invention as set forth in the following claims.