Tie-free apron, and a method for its use

Abstract

A tie-free apron includes a bib with a front, a back, top and bottom edges, first side and second side edges, the top edge to the bottom edge, two shoulder straps with a first end attached to the top edge of the bib and a second end, a back pad with a top edge attached to the second end of each of the two shoulder straps, first and second side edges, and a bottom edge, a first waist strap with a first end attached to the first side edge of the back patch and a second end attached to the first side edge of the bib using a first adjustable attachment, and a second waist strap with a first end attached to the second side edge of the back patch and a second end attached to the second edge of the bib using a second adjustable attachment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tie-free apron comprising:
 a bib comprising a front, a back, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the first side edge and second side edge connecting the top edge to the bottom edge;   two shoulder straps, each comprising a first end attached to the top edge of the bib and a second end;   a back pad having a top edge attached to the second end of each of the two shoulder straps, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a bottom edge;   a first waist strap, the first waist strap having a first end attached to the first side edge of the back patch adjacent to the bottom edge of the back patch, and a second end attached to the first side edge of the bib using a first adjustable attachment; and   a second waist strap, the second waist strap having a first end attached to the second side edge of the back patch adjacent to the bottom edge of the back patch, and a second end attached to the second edge of the bib using a second adjustable attachment.   
     
     
         2 . An apron according to  claim 1 , wherein the bib narrows near to the top edge of the bib, so that the top edge of the bib is narrower than the bottom edge of the bib, and so that each of the first side of the bib and the second side of the bib has a concave section adjacent to the top edge of the bib. 
     
     
         3 . An apron according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of at least one shoulder strap further comprises a fastener detachably attaching the first end to the top edge of the bib. 
     
     
         4 . An apron according to  claim 3 , wherein the fastener comprises a clip. 
     
     
         5 . An apron according to  claim 1 , wherein the back pad is substantially trapezoidal, the top edge of the back pad forming a larger base of the substantially trapezoidal back pad, and the bottom edge of the back pad forming a smaller base of the substantially trapezoidal back pad. 
     
     
         6 . An apron according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first adjustable attachment and the second adjustable attachment is attached to the bib using a detachable fastener. 
     
     
         7 . An apron according to  claim 6 , wherein the detachable fastener comprises a clip. 
     
     
         8 . An apron according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first adjustable attachment and second adjustable attachment further comprises a double D-ring fastener. 
     
     
         9 . A method for wearing an apron, the method comprising:
 providing an apron according to  claim 1 ;   donning the apron by passing a head between the two shoulder straps, passing one arm between the first side of the back pad and the first side of the bib, and passing another arm between the second side of the back pad and the second side of the bib;   tightening the first waist strap; and   tightening the second waist strap.   
     
     
         10 . A tie-free apron comprising:
 a bib comprising a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the first side edge and second side edge connecting the top edge to the bottom edge;   a first shoulder strap having a first end attached to the top edge adjacent to the first edge, and a second end attached to the second edge using a first adjustable attachment;   a second shoulder strap having a first end attached to the top edge adjacent to the second edge, and a second end attached to the first edge using a first adjustable attachment, such that the second shoulder strap crosses the first shoulder strap; and   a mutually slidable attachment connecting the second shoulder strap to the first shoulder strap where the second shoulder strap crosses the first shoulder strap.   
     
     
         11 . An apron according to  claim 10 , wherein the bib narrows near to the top edge of the bib, so that the top edge of the bib is narrower than the bottom edge of the bib, and so that each of the first side of the bib and the second side of the bib has a concave section adjacent to the top edge of the bib. 
     
     
         12 . A tie-free apron according to  claim 10 , wherein the mutually slidable attachment comprises a longitudinal slit in the first shoulder strap, through which the second shoulder strap passes. 
     
     
         13 . A tie-free apron according to  claim 10 , wherein the mutually slidable attachment comprises a strap divider. 
     
     
         14 . A tie-free apron according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first end of the first shoulder strap and the first end of the second shoulder strap is attached to the top of the bib using a detachable fastener. 
     
     
         15 . A tie-free apron according to  claim 14 , wherein the detachable fastener comprises a clip. 
     
     
         16 . A tie-free apron according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first adjustable attachment and the second adjustable attachment is attached to the bib using a detachable fastener. 
     
     
         17 . A tie-free apron according to  claim 16 , wherein the fastener comprises a clip. 
     
     
         18 . An apron according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the first adjustable attachment and second adjustable attachment further comprises a double D-ring fastener. 
     
     
         19 . A method for wearing an apron, the method comprising:
 providing an apron according to  claim 10 ;   donning the apron by passing a head between the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap, passing one arm between the mutually slidable attachment and the first side of the bib, and passing another arm between the mutually slidable attachment and the second side of the bib;   tightening the first shoulder strap; and   tightening the second shoulder strap.