JP7670893B2 - Bibs for small children - Google Patents

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62,758,669, filed November 11, 2018.

The present invention relates to a foldable bib for babies, the bib having a locking section for keeping it secure when folded.

It is common for parents to take bibs with them when preparing for the possibility of feeding their babies on the go. The method of storage is important as improper storage can lead to contamination, cleanliness, and excessive consumption of space in the diaper bag. The present invention focuses on a foldable bib that can be folded and secured in a folded position to minimize space while protecting the contents from spilling. To avoid placing excessive weight on a small child, baby bibs are generally designed to be lightweight. For baby bibs that include semi-rigid materials such as plastic or silicone, the bibs are generally heavier than traditional cloth materials. Thus, to avoid burdening the baby with a heavy bib, the thickness of the bib is minimized. U.S. Design Patent No. D698130 discloses a baby bib in which, when folded, a connector snaps onto the edge of a pocket hole to secure the folded position. The thickness limitations in the overall structure reduce the durability and reliability of the hole edges. Over time, repetitive pulling or twisting motions cause wear and tear on the holes. In addition, the bib holes are located along the pockets of the bib. This can cause unwanted spillage of food or fluids, which also causes discomfort to small children. It would be desirable to be able to provide a reliable locking mechanism for infant bibs that can extend the product life of the bib while providing a strong locking system that is easy to use and manufacture. Additionally, this reduces discomfort and unnecessary spillage for small children.

U.S. Design Patent No. D698130

The present invention generally relates to a locking mechanism for a bib, particularly a bib including a locking section for engaging and securing a protruding connector located in the pocket of the bib, with a means for securing the bib in the folded position for storage capacity and to prevent spillage of dirt. This is achieved by designing a prominent locking section to provide a tight wrap when securing the protruding connector. The thickness of the locking section is independent of the bib and can be designed with various levels of thickness without affecting the overall structure of the bib. The present invention also focuses on the protruding connector being located away from the baby-to-body contact to prevent skin irritation. The locking mechanism eliminates holes in the surface of the pocket, thus preventing food spillage in both the open and folded positions.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a bib according to the present invention showing the location of the locking sections. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bib according to the present invention showing the location of the locking sections. FIG. 13 is a rear view of the bib showing the opening of the locking section. FIG. 13 is a side view of the bib showing the locking section. FIG. 2 is a side view of a vertical cross section of the present invention showing the locking section, socket, opening and protruding tab. FIG. 13 is a top view of the present invention showing the alignment of the locking sections and protruding tabs. FIG. 2 is a side view of a vertical section of the bib in a folded position. FIG. 2 is a top view of the bib in a folded position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bib in a folded position. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the bib in an unfolded position showing the handles on the edges of the storage pockets.

The convertible bib 1 is foldable, collapsible, and can be stored in a storage pocket 40, where various items can be stored, such as a spoon for use during outdoor activities. FIG. 1 shows the convertible bib 1 having a panel 10 and a storage pocket 40. The convertible bib 1 includes a panel 10 having collar attachments 15, 16 that extend and secure around the baby's neck. The manner in which the collar attachments are fastened together is shown in FIG. 2. The manner in which the attachments are fastened typically includes various Velcro, buttons, hook and loop, or any other fastener capable of securing the bib around the baby's neck. FIG. 1 also shows the general location of a locking section 20, which is an important component of the locking mechanism for securing the bib in the folded position. Further description of this method for the locking mechanism is discussed in the following paragraphs.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the bib revealing the opening 30 for the locking section 20. The opening 30 consists of a hole or slit that can stretch to various sizes and shapes to fit the protruding tabs 25 located on the storage pockets 40.

Figure 4 is a side view showing the locking section 20 positioned on the body of the bib 1. The locking section is made of a semi-rigid material that can be stretched, compressed, and restored, thereby allowing deformation of its shape and thus achieving interlocking of the protruding tabs 25 and the locking section 20.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A in Figure 1. The locking section 20 is located on the front body of the bib 1. The internal structure of the locking section 20 consists of a socket 31 and an opening 30. The socket 31 is a hollow structure with a means for engaging and securely fastening the fasteners 26 of the protruding tabs 25 when the bib is in the folded position. The protruding tabs 25 are generally located in the storage pockets 40, each aligned on the same vertical axis of the locking section 20 (see Figure 6). Please note that the shape and size of the socket 31 is determined by the stretchability of the material used for the locking section, and its main purpose is to securely fasten the fasteners 26 of the protruding tabs 25.

7 is a side view cross section depicting the bib 1 in a folded position. During a storage operation, the user folds the bib into the storage pocket 40, whereby the bib panel 10 is folded into the storage pocket 40 in such a way that the opening 30 is aligned with the protruding tab 25. The user inserts the protruding tab 25 into the locking section 20 through the opening 30. When the protruding tab 25 reaches the socket 31, the elasticity and resilience of the socket 31 engages and secures the fastener 26 of the protruding tab 25. Alternatively, the user can apply pressure, such as pinching and bending the locking section 20, to expand the internal structure (socket 31 and opening 30) to facilitate the insertion of the protruding tab 25. By releasing the pressure, the internal structure elastically returns to its initial state, which in turn grips and secures the fastener 26 of the protruding tab 25. The user again applies pressure to the locking section 20, which in turn stretches the internal structure, further releasing the fastener 26 and pulling the protruding tab 25 apart by allowing the protruding tab 25 to be pulled out of the locking section 20. The protruding tab 25 and its fastener 26 may also be designed to deform their shape under pressure. The user may apply pressure to the protruding tab 25 to disengage it from the socket 31 and release it from the section 20 through the opening 30.

Alternatively, the protruding tab can be placed within the locking compartment 20 with an alternative socket placed in the storage pocket 40 to achieve a similar interlocking mechanism.

Alternatively, the positions of the protruding tab and the locking section can be swapped, with the locking section being placed in the storage pocket 40 and the protruding tab being located on the body of the bib, to achieve a similar interlocking mechanism.

8 and 9 are top and perspective views of the bib in a fully folded position. The folded bib is generally "bathtub" shaped, but it should be noted that the bib can be manufactured to be in various shapes. It should be noted that the entire bib can be manufactured as one piece or multiple components. The locking section 20, the protruding tab 25, the socket 31, the opening 30 and other subsequent components can be manufactured in various sizes, shapes and materials as long as they achieve the locking effect. The locking section 20 can also be made to be wrapped with a different resilient material to achieve a better or optimal locking effect with the protruding tab 25. The protruding tab 29 can be further extended to form a handle 89. The handle 89 is generally located near the protruding tab 29 with a means to assist in moving the protruding tab 29 in and out of the opening 30 of the locking section. The handle 89 can be part of the protruding tab 29 or a separate entity. The handle 89 can be manufactured in various sizes, shapes and materials.

As an alternative to the preferred embodiment, the locking section 20 may be made hollow to further encase and secure a locking device (not shown). The locking device interacts with a protruding tab, both of which may be in the form of, but not limited to, a buckle, button, fastener, connector, and may or may not be made of the same material as the locking section 20.

Note that the protruding tabs and locking sections can be located anywhere on the bib, and there can be one or more locking sections or protruding tabs at any location, and they may or may not be aligned with each other. This allows the bib to be folded into a variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate the amount of storage space desired by the user.

1 convertible bib 10 panel 15 collar attachment 16 collar attachment 20 locking section 25 protruding tab 26 fastener 29 protruding tab 30 opening 31 socket 40 storage pocket 89 handle

Claims (5)

A convertible bib (1), comprising:
A panel (10) having a front surface and a back surface;
a storage pocket (40) integrally formed with said panel and having a rear end connected to said panel and a front end located on the face side of said panel;
a protruding tab (25) at said front end , integrally formed with said storage pocket and protruding into said storage pocket;
a locking section (20) provided at the rear end , integrally formed with the storage pocket, configured to encase the protruding tab and having a recess (31) opening to the rear surface;
the protruding tabs are configured to be nested within the recesses to close the front and rear ends when the folded panel is stored in the storage pocket;
Bib (1). the at least one protruding tab having a fastener at a distal end;
2. The convertible bib of claim 1. The convertible bib of claim 2, wherein the locking section is elastic so that when the fastener of the protruding tab is inserted, the locking section stretches from an initial state and elastically returns to the initial state to releasably secure the fastener. the protruding tab is located inside the storage pocket below an upper end of the storage pocket and extends rearwardly from its forward inner surface;
A convertible bib according to any one of claims 1 to 3. the recess is at an upper end of the storage pocket adjacent a lower end of the panel when the panel is in an unfolded state;
A convertible bib according to any one of claims 1 to 3.