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  Protective bib or apronUSPTO Application #: 20070022509Title: Protective bib or apron Abstract: An apron for use by dentists and the like is provided with a main body portion and a collar portion for securing the apron to the wearer in which the collar portion is adjustably securable at any position within a predetermined range such that it forms a close fit around the wearer wherein the collar and body portions comprise an absorbent side and a substantially waterproof. (end of abstract) Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP - Irvine, CA, US Inventors: David Richard Bloom, Claudine Nicola Bloom, Jayseelan Nadasen Padayachy USPTO Applicaton #: 20070022509 - Class: 002049100 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Garment Protectors, Aprons, Infant`s Bib The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070022509. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT application Serial No. PCT/GB2005/000301, which was filed Jan. 28, 2005 designating the US and published in English on Aug. 25, 2005 as WO 2005/072541, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference and made part of the present disclosure. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a protective apron or bib of the type which may be used for a dental patient. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Basic bib or aprons that are fastened around a patient's neck during dental or other procedures in order to protect the patient during treatment are already known. A common form of dentist's apron comprises a body portion covering the chest area of the patient and a collar portion attached to the body portion to secure the apron to the patient. The collar comprises two straps that extend beyond the main body portion of the apron to allow the collar to be adjustable so as to accommodate patients with a variety of neck sizes. Often, this is accomplished by forming a series of slots in one of the straps and by narrowing the tongue portion of the other strap so as to allow the tongue portion to be inserted in to the slot. The narrowed tongue portion is enlarged at the end so that the apron can be securely attached around the patient's neck. [0004] A problem with this type of apron is that the patient is only partially protected by the apron since it only covers the chest area, and secondly that the collar is not really fully adjustable since only a predetermined number of slots can be provided in the strap of the collar. The situation then arises that the collar is either too loose, allowing fluid etc. to pass between the collar and the neck of the wearer, or that the collar is too tight, and the patient feels uncomfortably restricted by the collar of the apron. A further problem with this type of apron is that it is difficult to undo easily and quickly, which may be required in an emergency. [0005] A further problem with conventional aprons is that the collar portions do not have sufficient absorbency for modern dental treatments. Such treatments are now more complex than ever before. Such treatments can take anything from 1 hour to 9 hours, compared with the relatively short procedures that were performed in the past. The increase in complexity of procedures is partly due to the improvement of the standard of dental care over the years, but increasingly is because more and more patients are now undergoing complex cosmetic dental procedures. Recent surveys have shown that more than 92% of dentists in the UK now offer cosmetic dentistry in their practice, and that over 90% of dentists in the UK agreed or strongly agreed that they had noticed an increased demand for cosmetic dentistry in the last five years. Such procedures are commonly performed by private dental clinics, and as such, patients expect a much higher level of care and comfort during and after the dental procedures. [0006] Therefore, dental treatment is increasingly based on the patient's desire for cosmetic dental improvement procedures rather than the traditional visits by patients to their dentist for treatments simply to alleviate pain. [0007] Private clients therefore expect to be pampered and are more and more seeking a more comfortable experience whilst lying in the dental chair to make their visits more pleasant. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The inventors have appreciated that for more lengthy cosmetic dental procedures, currently available aprons are uncomfortable when they become saturated with liquid. Often these aprons are thin and cover just the chest area. Some water is absorbed here, but due to the fact that patients are horizontal, most of the spilt water spray runs from the corner of the mouth down into the nape of the neck. [0009] When appointments were short and were not cosmetic based procedures, such basic aprons were adequate in protecting patients. Now, however, with increased competition in the market for treating private patients who desire a higher level of care and comfort, there is a need for an apron with a body and collar portions that effectively prevent excess water spray from rolling down the patient's neck and soaking the patients back during extended treatments. [0010] Accordingly, preferred embodiments of the invention seek to provide an improved apron that reduces the wetness of a patient's neck and back during and after treatment. [0011] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a protective apron comprising a main body portion and a collar portion for securing the apron to the wearer in which the collar portion is adjustably securable at any position within a predetermined range such that it forms a close fit around the wearer wherein the collar and body portions comprise an absorbent side and a substantially waterproof side. [0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the neck size of the apron is adjustable so that the collar portion of the apron can be tightly but comfortably wrapped around the patient's neck and secured in position using hook and loop material. [0013] In a further embodiment, the collar portion of the apron is secured in position using self-adhesive materials. This embodiment has the advantage that during the manufacture process of the apron, a separate stitching process is not needed, and self-adhesive strips can simply be applied to the collar portion of the apron to secure it in position. [0014] Both these embodiments prevent any fluid that is accidentally spilt onto the patient from running down the collar or on to the patient. [0015] A further advantage of using hook and loop material or self adhesive materials to attach the apron to the patient is that the patient may be quickly and easily released from the apron. [0016] Furthermore it is common practice for dentists to use a water-cooling spray during surgery or an oral spray to clean out a patient's mouth after surgery. It is therefore important that if the apron is to be used as a dentist's apron, that it is preferably made out of a highly absorbent material such as towelling, or non-woven materials such as viscose and polyester fibres in a single sheet or in a laminated construction. [0017] In this way, any spilt spray or other spillage is immediately absorbed into the apron before it can flow from the apron onto the patient's clothes, if the body and collar portions of the apron do not entirely cover the patient. In addition, during treatment it is often the case that small spillages regularly occur around the patient's mouth. It is foreseen in such circumstances that the dentist's assistant or even the patient could use a lower portion of the apron to absorb the spillage before it naturally runs onto the patient's apron, if the apron were to be made out of a highly absorbent material. In this embodiment, the use of a towelling material would furthermore be advantageous because it is a highly durable material, and so would allow the dentist to launder the apron frequently to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness. [0018] In a further embodiment, the apron can be manufactured from viscose and polyester fibres, other non-woven materials or other materials with similar absorbing properties either in a single sheet or in a laminated construction. The advantage of using non-woven materials is not only its capacity to absorb large quantities of liquid, but also because the use of such materials would allow a cost effective apron to be produced using a high-speed manufacture process. These materials are relatively inexpensive, and an apron made out of such materials would be simple to manufacture since the apron can be formed out of a single sheet of the material. [0019] Using this process, the body and collar portions can be flat packed and distributed quickly and efficiently. Also this embodiment has the advantage that the apron is disposable as clinical waste. In this way a dentist can easily maintain hygiene and cleanliness standards. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading... Full patent description for Protective bib or apron Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Protective bib or apron patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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