Tray receptacle apron bib garment

Abstract

An outer garment is disclosed that includes an upper portion having upper portion pliant edges and two neck end portions to secure the upper portion to a user's neck; and a lower portion joined to the upper portion. The lower portion includes pliant lower portion edges coupled to the upper portion pliant edges; a pliant support mesh/grid covering a rectangular area defined by the lower portion edges; and an edge joining fastener or strap mechanism/system to secure two adjacent lower portion edges together. The outer garment includes a three-dimensional tray/receptacle that is formed when the lower edges are joined together by Velcro fasteners.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outer garment, comprising:
 a. an upper portion having upper portion pliant edges and two neck end portions to secure the upper portion to a user's neck; and   b. a lower portion joined to the upper portion, the lower portion including
 i. pliant lower portion edges coupled to the upper portion pliant edges; 
 ii. a pliant support mesh or grid covering an area defined by the lower portion edges; and 
 iii. an edge joining fastener to secure two adjacent lower portion edges together. 
   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , comprising a pocket positioned on the upper portion to store one or more items. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , comprising a second edge joining fastener to secure two adjacent lower portion edges together. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the pliant support mesh or grid comprises plastic-covered strips of wire intertwined into two leaves or panes of polymeric material and wherein the vinyl panes are sewn together leaving vertical and horizontal canals to receive the strips of wire and wherein the polymeric panes are secured to contain the strips of wire inside the canals. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , comprising a second edge joining strap to secure two adjacent lower portion edges together. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the pliant support mesh or grid comprises wires inserted into wire receptacles formed on the lower portion. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the pliant edges comprise wires inserted into wire receptacles. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the neck end portions are secured by Velcro, a button, hook and loop, or a clip. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , comprising one or more receptacles on the lower portion to receive a toy, an object, or a utensil. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower portions are foldable for storage. 
     
     
         11 . A method to protect clothing from soiling, comprising:
 a. wearing an outer garment having an upper portion having upper portion pliant edges and two neck end portions to secure the upper portion to a user's neck; and a lower portion joined to the upper portion, the lower portion including pliant lower portion edges coupled to the upper portion pliant edges; a pliant support mesh or grid covering an area defined by the lower portion edges; and an edge joining fastener to secure two adjacent lower portion edges together; and   b. forming a three-dimensional open ended container by securing adjacent lower portion edges together.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising forming a three-dimensional open ended rectangular container by securing adjacent lower portion edges together. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising forming one or more zippered pouches on the lower portion to store one or more objects therein. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising changing the shape of the three-dimensional open-ended container by adjusting the pliant edges. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising forming the mesh or grid by superimposing two polymeric sheets together with vertical and horizontal canals to receive strips of wire. 
     
     
         16 . An outer garment, comprising:
 a. an upper portion including:
 i. upper portion pliant edges; 
 ii. a pocket positioned on the upper portion to store one or more items; and 
 iii. two neck end portions to secure the upper portion to a user's neck; and 
   b. a lower portion joined to the upper portion, the lower portion including
 i. pliant lower portion edges coupled to the upper portion pliant edges; 
 ii. a pliant support mesh or grid covering an area defined by the lower portion edges; 
 iii. a first edge joining fastener to secure two adjacent lower portion edges together; and 
 iv. a second edge joining fastener to secure two adjacent lower portion edges together, wherein the first and second joining fastener form a three dimensional food receptacle region. 
   
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 16 , wherein the pliant support mesh comprises wires inserted into wire receptacles formed on the lower portion and wherein the pliant edges comprise wires inserted into wire receptacles, wherein the wires allow the pliant support mesh moldable by the user to form a user defined three-dimensional shape. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 16 , comprising one or more zippered pouches positioned on the lower portion to store one or more objects therein and a Velcro strip positioned on the lower portion to attach an object having a corresponding Velcro strip. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 16 , comprising one or more receptacles on the lower portion to receive a toy, an object, or a utensil. 
     
     
         20 . The garment of  claim 16 , comprising an object with a fastener thereon and an object securing fastener mounted on the lower portion to secure the object to the lower portion. 
     
     
         21 . An outer garment, comprising:
 a. an upper portion having upper portion pliant edges and two neck end portions to secure the upper portion to a user's neck; and   b. a lower portion joined to the upper portion, the lower portion including
 i. pliant lower portion edges coupled to the upper portion pliant edges; and 
 ii. a pliant, user-moldable material covering an area defined by the lower portion edges, wherein a user shapes two adjacent lower portion edges together to form a three-dimensional tray on the user's lap.