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United States Patent Application |
20110119802
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Kind Code
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A1
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SCHUCK; FREDERICK ALAN
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May 26, 2011
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APRON
Abstract
An apron can include an apron body with an upper portion and a lower
portion. The apron has a resilient portion that extends about a central
region of the apron, which can be provided at or near the junction
between the upper portion and the lower portion. The resilient portion
can be moved between a closed portion and at least one open position. The
resilient portion can be biased to the closed position. The apron has no
straps. The apron can be held in place on a wearer's body solely by
engagement between the apron body and the wearer's body, particularly as
the resilient portion substantially conformingly engages the wearer's
body. The apron can improve the comfort of a wearer because there are no
straps to rub against exposed portions of the user's body. Further, the
apron can be readily donned and removed without much hassle and time.
Inventors: |
SCHUCK; FREDERICK ALAN; (PALM HARBOR, FL)
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Serial No.:
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860850 |
Series Code:
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12
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Filed:
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August 20, 2010 |
Current U.S. Class: |
2/48 |
Class at Publication: |
2/48 |
International Class: |
A41D 13/04 20060101 A41D013/04 |
Claims
1. An apron comprising: an apron body having an upper portion and a lower
portion; and a resilient portion extending about a central region of the
apron, wherein the resilient portion is movable between a closed position
and at least one open position, the resilient portion being biased into
the closed position, whereby a person's body can be received in the apron
when the resilient portion is in the open position and whereby, when the
resilient portion is allowed to move back toward the closed position, the
apron is retained on the wearer's body without the use of any straps.
2. The apron of claim 1 wherein the resilient portion is formed by a band
operatively associated with the central region of the apron body.
3. The apron of claim 2 wherein the band is made of steel.
4. The apron of claim 2 wherein the band is substantially C-shaped.
5. The apron of claim 2 wherein the band has a first end and a second
end, and wherein the first and second ends of the band are configured to
minimize sharp points, whereby the possibility of jabbing, poking or
scratching are minimized.
6. The apron of claim 5 wherein at least one of the first and second ends
of the band is blunted.
7. The apron of claim 5 wherein at least one of the first and second ends
of the band is bent back upon itself.
8. The apron of claim 2 the band has a first end and a second end, and
wherein the apron is equipped with a first pocket and a second pocket to
receive a respective one of the first and second ends of the band.
9. The apron of claim 8 wherein the first pocket is provided
substantially proximate to a distal end of the first arm, and wherein the
second pocket is provided substantially proximate to a distal end of the
second arm.
10. The apron of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the band is
received in a passage formed on the apron.
11. The apron of claim 10 wherein the apron includes an outer surface and
an inner surface, and wherein the passage is formed on the inner surface.
12. The apron of claim 2 wherein the apron includes first and second
arms, and wherein the band is operatively associated with the first and
second arms.
13. The apron of claim 12 wherein the first and second arms are at least
partially formed by at least one of the upper portion and the lower
portion.
14. The apron of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the apron body is
plastic coated.
15. The apron of claim 1 wherein the resilient portion is located
substantially at the junction between the upper portion and the lower
portion of the apron body.
16. The apron of claim 1 wherein the apron is free of straps.
17. An apron comprising: an apron body having an upper portion and a
lower portion; and a resilient portion extending about a central region
of the apron, wherein the resilient portion is movable between a closed
position and at least one open position, the resilient portion being
biased into the closed position, the resilient portion being formed by a
band operatively associated with the central region of the apron body,
the apron being free of straps, whereby the apron has no straps for tying
or placement about any portion of the body of a wearer and whereby the
apron can be held in place on a wearer's body solely by engagement
between the apron body and the wearer's body including the substantially
conformingly engagement between the resilient portion and the wearer's
body, whereby a person's body can be received in the apron when the
resilient portion is in the open position and whereby, when the resilient
portion is allowed to move back toward the closed position, the apron is
retained on the wearer's body without the use of any straps.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 61/235,576, filed on Aug. 20, 2009, which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates in general to protective garments and, more
particularly, to aprons.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An apron is a protective garment that covers a portion of the front
of the body. It can also cover portions of the back and/or sides of the
body. Aprons may be worn for hygienic reasons and to protect clothing
from wear as well as substances that can stain or ruin the clothing.
Aprons are used on a variety of occasions. For instance, homemakers may
wear aprons while cooking or cleaning. Additionally, aprons may be part
of the uniform for a waitress, maid or domestic worker.
[0004] An apron is typically held in place on a wearer's body by one or
more straps. For instance, two straps can be provided in the waist region
of the apron. These two straps can be tied together behind the back of
the person wearing the apron. Alternatively or in addition, some aprons
may have neck or shoulder straps, which may or may not need to be tied.
[0005] An apron with straps has several disadvantages. For instance, the
straps can cause discomfort to a wearer as they rub against a portion of
the body. Further, the straps can add extra time and effort to the
process of donning and removing the apron because the straps must be
tied, usually behind the wearer's body. In some instances, the straps may
interfere with the wearer's range of movement. In addition, the straps
can become untied while performing the task at hand. Thus, there is a
need for an apron that can minimize such concerns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An apron includes an apron body with an upper portion and a lower
portion. The apron further includes a resilient portion that extends
about a central region of the apron. The central region can be located
between the upper and lower portion. The resilient portion is movable
between a closed position and at least one open position. The resilient
portion is biased into the closed position. The resilient portion can be
formed by a steel band operatively associated with the central region of
the apron body. The apron does not include any straps to tie about a
wearer or place over a portion of a wearer's body, such as the neck or
shoulders. Thus, a person's body can be received in the apron when the
resilient portion is moved into an open position. When released, the
resilient portion is allowed to move back toward the closed position
under its own bias so as to engage about the user's body, such as around
the person's waist. Thus, the apron is retained on the wearer's body
without the use of any straps.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of an apron according to aspects of the
invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a rear view of an apron according to aspects of the
invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of an apron according to aspects of the
invention, showing a resilient portion of the apron in a closed position.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top view of an apron according to aspects of the
invention, showing a resilient portion of the apron in an open position.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a view of a portion of an apron according to aspects of
the invention, showing an end of a steel band that can at least partially
form the resilient portion.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a portion of an apron according to
aspects of the invention, showing an end of a steel band being received
in a pocket.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a front view of a person wearing an apron according to
aspects of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a rear view of a person wearing an apron according to
aspects of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Embodiments of the invention are directed to an apron that can
improve user comfort and/or minimize the amount of time it takes to put
on and/or take off the apron. Aspects of the invention will be explained
in connection with various apron configurations, but the detailed
description is intended only as exemplary. Embodiments of the invention
are shown in FIGS. 1-8, but the present invention is not limited to the
illustrated structure or application.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an apron 10 according to aspects of the
invention can have an apron body 12. The apron 10 can include an outer
surface 11 and an inner surface 13. The apron body 12 can also have an
upper portion 14 and a lower portion 16. The upper portion 14 can be
sized, shaped and/or configured to cover at least a portion of the front
of a wearer's upper body. The upper portion 14 can be sized, shaped
and/or configured to substantially conformingly fit to at least a portion
of the upper body of a wearer. The upper portion 14 can be sized, shaped
and/or configured so that it may begin at or near a wearer's waist and
extend generally upwardly therefrom. The upper portion 14 can extend any
suitable length. For example, the upper portion 14 can extend to about an
upper chest region, a lower chest region, or a collarbone region of a
wearer. The upper portion 14 can be made of a single piece of material or
a plurality of pieces of material joined together in any suitable manner,
including, for example, by stitching, fasteners, adhesives and/or
mechanical engagement.
[0017] The lower portion 16 can be sized, shaped and/or configured to
extend generally downwardly from a wearer's body. The lower portion 16
can extend any suitable length. For instance, the lower portion 16 can
extend to a wearer's thighs, knees, skins or ankles, just to name a few
possibilities. The lower portion 16 can be sized, shaped and/or
configured to substantially conformingly fit to at least a portion of the
lower body of a wearer. The lower portion 16 can be made of a single
piece of material or a plurality of pieces of material joined together in
any suitable manner, including, for example, by stitching, fasteners,
adhesives and/or mechanical engagement.
[0018] It will be appreciated that the apron 10 can have any suitable
size. In some instances, the apron 10 may be made in a variety of sizes
to accommodate a number of different body sizes, types and/or shapes.
[0019] The apron body 12 can be made of any of a number of materials. For
instance, the apron body 12 can be made of plastic, oilcloth, PVC, fabric
or other suitable material, or any combination thereof. The apron body 12
can be made of a single layer of material, or it can have multiple
layers. At least a portion of the apron body 12, such as the outer
surface 11, can be plastic coated so that such surfaces can be easily
wiped clean. In one embodiment, the apron body 12 can be made of a
waterproof or water resistant material. The apron body 12 may be made of
a single material or a plurality of materials.
[0020] The apron body 12 can be made of a plurality of pieces of material
that are joined together in any suitable manner, such as by stitching,
adhesives, fasteners, and/or mechanical engagement, just to name a few
possibilities. For example, the upper portion 14 and the lower portion 16
can be made from separate pieces of material that are subsequently joined
together. The upper portion 14 and the lower portion 16 may or may not be
made of the same materials. One or more edges portions of the apron body
12 can be reinforced to minimize wear. Such reinforcement can be achieved
in any suitable way. For instance, extra material can be provided at the
edge portions of the apron body 12. In one embodiment, the apron body 12
can be folded over on itself in one or more edge portions of the apron
10, thereby increasing the thickness of the edge portions.
[0021] The apron 10 can have any number of features to facilitate the task
at hand. For instance, the apron 10 can include one or more pockets 18
(FIG. 1) in which one or more items can be held. Such pockets can be
formed in any suitable manner. Alternatively, the apron 10 can include
loops or straps which can be used to engage one or more items or on which
one or more items can be supported or attached. For example, a rag or
towel can be held by the strap.
[0022] According to aspects of the invention, the apron 10 does not have
any straps to tie about a wearer's body or to be supported on a portion
of the user's body. The apron 10 has a resilient portion 20 about a
central region 22 of the apron 10. In one embodiment, the resilient
portion 20 can be provided at or near the waist of a wearer. The
resilient portion 20 can be provided at or near the junction between the
upper portion 14 and the lower portion 16 of the apron body 12.
[0023] The resilient portion 20 can include portions of the apron body 12
that extend rearward from the upper portion 14 and/or the lower portion
16. For instance, the resilient portion 20 can be at least partially
defined by a first arm 40 and a second arm 42. The first arm 40 and the
second arm can be formed as part of the upper portion 14, the lower
portion 16 or combinations thereof. The arms 40, 42 can extend to distal
ends 40a, 42a (FIG. 3), respectively.
[0024] The resilient portion 20 can be formed in any number of ways. For
example, the resilient portion 20 can be formed by a hoop or band 24
operatively associated with the central region 22 of the apron 10, which
can include the first and second arms 40, 42. The band 24 can have a
first end 26 and a second end 28. The band 24 can extend continuously
from at or near the distal end 40a of the first arm 40 to a point that is
at or near the distal end 42a of the second arm 42. In one instance, the
band 24 may not be continuous. For instance, the band 24 can be made of a
plurality of separate segments (not shown).
[0025] The band 24 can be made of any suitable material. The band 24 can
be formed by the material of the apron body 12 itself or it can be a
separate piece. In one embodiment, the band 24 can be made of steel, such
as tempered steel. While embodiments of the invention are described and
shown herein as being a steel band 24, it will be understood that
embodiments of the invention are not limited to such structure. Indeed,
the band 24 can be formed in any suitable manner and using any suitable
material. For instance, the band 24 can be made of an elastic material.
[0026] The band 24 can have any suitable shape. Generally the band 24 can
be substantially C-shaped. The band 24 can have any suitable
cross-sectional shape. For example, the band 24 can have a substantially
circular cross-sectional shape.
[0027] The band 24 can be received at least partially in a passage 30
formed on the apron 12. In one embodiment, the passage 30 can be formed
on the inner surface 13 of the apron 12.
[0028] The passage 30 can be formed in any suitable manner. For instance,
a piece of material can be attached to the inner surface of the apron 12.
Alternatively, the upper and lower portions 14, 16 can be configured to
cooperatively form the passage 30. The passage 30 can at least partially
enclose the band 24 along at least a portion of its length. In some
instances, there can be a plurality of passages.
[0029] The apron 10 and/or the ends 26, 28 of the band 24 can be
configured to minimize sharp points and the possibility of jabbing,
poking or scratching a person. For instance, one or both of the ends 26,
28 of the band 24 can be blunt or can be bent back upon itself, as is
shown in FIG. 5 (only one of the ends being shown). Alternatively or in
addition, the apron 10 can be equipped with pockets 32 in the central
region 22 to receive a respective one of the ends 26, 28 of the band 24,
as shown in FIG. 6. The pockets 32 can be provided at or near the distal
ends 40a, 42a of the first and second arms 40, 42. The pockets 32 can be
formed on the inner surface 13 of the apron 10.
[0030] The resilient portion 20 can be moved between a closed portion
(FIG. 3) and at least one open position (FIG. 4). The resilient portion
20 can be biased toward the closed position. The term "resilient" or
"resilient portion" means that this portion of the apron 10 can return
substantially to an original position, such as the closed position, after
a force applied to this portion of the apron is removed. Examples of such
forces include stretching, expansion and/or compression. When in the
closed position, the first and second ends 26, 28 can pass each other, as
is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The resilient portion 20 can be moved to an
open position in any suitable manner, such as, for example, by pulling on
the ends 26, 28 by hand.
[0031] Having described various aspects of an apron according to aspects
of the invention, one manner of using such an apron will now be
described. It will be understood that the following description is merely
an example and is not intended to be limiting. A person can manipulate
the apron so that the resilient portion 20 is in an open position in
which the first and second ends 26, 28 are spaced sufficiently apart so
that the person's body can be received in the apron, as is shown in FIG.
4. For instance, a person can expand the central region 20 by moving the
first and second arms 40, 42 away from each other. Once in a sufficiently
open position, the user's body can pass between the arms 40, 42 and into
engagement with the apron 10 such that the upper portion 14 of the apron
body 12 can engage the person's upper body and the lower portion 16 of
the apron body 12 can engage the person's lower body.
[0032] The person can then release the arms 40, 42 such that the resilient
region 20 can move toward the closed position under its own bias, as is
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. When the apron 10 is being worn, the resilient
region 20 may or may not return to the fully closed position, depending
on, for example, the size of the wearer's body. The apron 10 can be
retained on the person's body by engagement between the resilient portion
20 and the person's body. The resilient portion 20 of the apron 10 can be
in substantially conformingly engagement with and about the wearer's
body. Significantly, there is no need for the user to tie any straps, as
is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0033] With the apron 10 in place, the person can perform whatever task is
at hand. When finished, the wearer can remove the apron 10 without much
effort. Such removal can be performed in any of a number of ways. For
instance, the resilient portion 20 can be moved to an open position, such
as by spreading the arms 40, 42 apart, so that the apron 10 can be pulled
from the user's body. Alternatively, almost any portion of the apron body
12 can be pulled in a forward, upward and/or downward direction by the
wearer until the apron 10 slips off the wearer's body, the resilient
portion 20 being expanded by engagement with the user's body. The apron
10 can be easily folded and stored. Alternatively, the apron 10 can
engage a suitable holder.
[0034] An apron according to aspects of the invention can provide numerous
benefits. For instance, the apron can improve the comfort of a wearer.
Indeed, the lack of any straps can avoid the discomfort associated with
previous aprons. Further, the apron according to aspects of the invention
can be readily donned and removed without much hassle and without much
time. In addition, the apron does not limit the mobility of the wearer.
[0035] Thus, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to
the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example
only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within
the scope of the invention.
* * * * *