Abstract:
An adult bib to protect one&#39;s clothing from food and beverage spills provides a small pocket for holding napkins or wet or dry wipes. It is made a soft, absorbent material such as terry cloth and a moisture proof backing such as vinyl. It fastens around the neck of the user with the aid of snap fasteners or a hook and loop fastening system such as Velcro®.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document Number 473,681 filed on May 4, 2000. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to garment protectors and the like and, more particularly, to a bib element in combination with a lower foldable retention flap formed utilizing fasteners affixed to the front of the bib.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Just about all of us have had the occasion where spilled food or beverage has ruined a shirt, tie, dress, blouse or other clothing outfit. Whether the spill was caused by extremely messy food, or just a simple accident, the outcome is always the same; the clothing must be cleaned and/or changed. This not only consumes valuable time, it results in higher cleaning costs and additional wear and tear on the clothing. If the clothing should be permanently stained, the cost to replace the item increases greatly. Additionally, those who frequently soil clothing, such as the elderly, the physically disabled, or those with diminished coordination skills must bear correspondingly higher cleaning costs.  
           [0006]    A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related.  
           [0007]    The following patents disclose a bib having a pocket in the front.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,506 issued in the name of Reinhart, Jr.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,311 issued in the name of Lampson et al.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,701 issued in the name of Ferreyros  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,572 issued in the name of Roessler  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,231 issued in the name of Noel  
           [0013]    The following patents describe the ornamental design for a bib for infants, invalids, or the like.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. D 346,268 issued in the name of Loranger  
           [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. D 313,883 issued in the name of Fleming  
           [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,288 issued in the name of Mack discloses a reusable bib having a material-receiving pocket.  
           [0017]    And, U.S. Pat. No. 3,996,946 issued in the name of Craig describes a hair washing rinse bib for invalids.  
           [0018]    Consequently, there exists a need for a means by which soiled clothing resulting from food or beverage spills can be avoided in a simple, easy and effective manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0019]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved adult bib.  
           [0020]    It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved adult bib having a lap pocket extension capable of forming a lap pocket collection means integrally therein.  
           [0021]    Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, an adult bib is provided designed to protect one&#39;s clothing from food and beverage spills, and also provides a small pocket for holding napkins or wet or dry wipes. It is made a soft, absorbent material such as terry cloth and a moisture proof backing such as vinyl. It fastens around the neck of the user with the aid of snap fasteners or a hook and loop fastening system such as Velcro®. It is perfect for eating messy foods in the home, in restaurants or in locations where eating is awkward such as in the car. It is also ideal for the elderly, the physically disabled, or others with diminished coordination who may frequently soil their clothes while eating.  
           [0022]    The use of the present invention provides a simple and time-proven solution for clothing that is soiled while eating. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a strap supported adult bib according to a preferred embodiment of the present intention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof, shown forming a lap pocket therein;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of vest type adult bib according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the vest type adult bib of FIG. 3, shown forming a lap pocket therein.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures.  
         [0029]    1. Detailed Description of the Figures  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 1- 2 , a strap supported adult bib  10  is shown, according to the present invention, having a main bib body  12  for covering the upper torso of a user. Extending upward from the main bib body  12  are a pair of generally parallel, linearly elongated retention straps  14  designed to, in conjunction with each other, circumscribe a user&#39;s neck in order to provide vertical support for the bib  10 . Each retention strap  14  is affixed at a proximal end to the bib body  12 , and supports a retention strap attachment means  16  at a distal end. The retention strap attachment means  16  is designed to releasably and adjustably affix together the relative distal ends of the retention straps. As such, it is anticipated that a number of otherwise conventional fastening means can be employed, including buttons, snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, or the like.  
         [0031]    Affixed to the main bib body  12  is a removable wipe cloth  20 . The wipe cloth  20  is designed to releasably affix to the bib body  12  by affixment by a wipe cloth attachment means  22 , comprised of any of a number of otherwise conventional fastening means can be employed, including buttons, snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, or the like.  
         [0032]    Extending downward from the lower portion of the bib body  12  is a bib body extension  24 , designed to cover the lower torso and upper lap of a user. Further, extending downward from the bib body extension  24  is a lap pocket extension  30 . The function and features of the lap pocket extension will be described in greater detail below. At or along the lower boundary of the bib body extension  24  are a plurality of pocket holding attachment means  32 . Similarly, aligned along the lower perimeter of the lap pocket extension  30  are a similar number of lap pocket forming attachments  36 , aligned to correspond with the pocket holding attachment means  32 . In this manner, the lap pocket forming attachments  36  are aligned with and affixed to the corresponding pocket holding attachment means  32  to form a debris collection lap pocket, shown as  38  in FIG. 2. As such, both the pocket holding attachment means  32  and lap pocket forming attachments  36  can be comprised of any of a number of otherwise conventional fastening means can be employed, including buttons, snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. Along the rear surface of the lap pocket extension  30  (which forms the front surface of the debris collection lap pocket  38 ) is a second wipe cloth attachment means  22 , for allowing the removable wipe cloth  20  to be alternately affixed thereto.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 3- 4 , a vest type adult bib  40  is shown, according to the present invention, having a back panel  42  attached to a main bib body  52  for by use of arm circumscribing support straps  53 . The main bib body  52  covers the upper torso of a user, and is split into a left bib body  52   a  and a right bib body to allow for placement on a user as one would place an otherwise conventional vest.  
         [0034]    Affixed to the main bib body  52   b  is a removable wipe cloth  54 . The wipe cloth  54  is designed to releasably affix to the bib body  52   b  by affixment by a wipe cloth attachment means  56 , comprised of any of a number of otherwise conventional fastening means can be employed, including buttons, snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, or the like.  
         [0035]    Extending downward from the lower portion of the bib body  52  is a bib body extension  64 , designed to cover the lower torso and upper lap of a user. Further, extending downward from the bib body extension  64  is a lap pocket extension  70 . The function and features of the lap pocket extension will be described in greater detail below. At or along the lower boundary of the bib body extension  64  are a plurality of pocket holding attachment means  72 . Similarly, aligned along the lower perimeter of the lap pocket extension  70  are a similar number of lap pocket forming attachments  76 , aligned to correspond with the pocket holding attachment means  72 . In this manner, the lap pocket forming attachments  76  are aligned with and affixed to the corresponding pocket holding attachment means  72  to form a debris collection lap pocket, shown as  78  in FIG. 4. As such, both the pocket holding attachment means  72  and lap pocket forming attachments  76  can be comprised of any of a number of otherwise conventional fastening means can be employed, including buttons, snap fasteners, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. Along the rear surface of the lap pocket extension  70  (which forms the front surface of the debris collection lap pocket  78 ) is a second wipe cloth attachment means  56 , for allowing the removable wipe cloth  54  to be alternately affixed thereto.  
         [0036]    2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment  
         [0037]    In operation, the present invention is used to protect the adult user&#39;s upper torso and lap from spills, crumbs, and the like while eating. Depending on the version, the bib will be place around the users neck or around the users body to support the bib along the upper torso. The bib extension will drape downward to protect the user&#39;s lower torso, and the lap extension is sized substantially in order to extend downward into the user&#39;s lap. Should the user wish, the lap extension can be folded upward and affixed to the bib extension such as to form a retention pocket for passive collection of debris.  
         [0038]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.