Adult bib with shoulder support panels

Abstract

An adult bib having a liquid impermeable full front panel, and a partial back panel including a pair of shoulder support panels is disclosed. The adult bib may include two arm openings, an adjustable closeable rear neck opening, and a closable storage pocket to collect, secure and contain any spillage after use. The partial back and arm openings resist displacement during use. The full front panel in combination with the partial back panel make the wearer appear to be wearing a standard shirt/blouse when seated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adult bib comprising:
 a full front panel comprising first and second upper shoulder portions, an upper edge defining a front portion of a neck opening, first and second side edges, a lower edge, a first arm opening edge extending from the first upper shoulder portion to the first side edge defining a front portion of a first arm opening, and a second arm opening edge extending from the second upper shoulder portion to the second side edge defining a front portion of a second arm opening; and   a partial back panel comprising first and second back shoulder support panels,   the first back shoulder support panel comprising a first upper shoulder support portion attached to the first upper shoulder portion of the full front panel, a first outer side edge attached to the first side edge of the full front panel, a first upper edge defining a first rear portion of the neck opening, a first arm opening edge extending from the first upper shoulder support portion to the first outer side edge defining a rear portion of the first arm opening, a first inner side edge releasingly engageable with the second back shoulder support panel, and a first lower edge located at a height above a height of the lower edge of the full front panel,   and the second back shoulder support panel comprising a second upper support portion attached to the second upper shoulder portion of the full front panel, a second upper edge defining a second rear portion of the neck opening, a second outer side edge attached to the second side edge of the full front panel, a second arm opening edge extending from the second upper shoulder support portion to the second outer side edge defining a rear portion of the second arm opening, a second inner side edge releasingly engageable with the first inner side edge of the first back shoulder support panel, and a second lower edge located at a height above the height of the lower edge of the full front panel.   
     
     
         2 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein, when the inner side edges of the first and second back shoulder support panels are engaged, the neck opening is closed between the upper edge of the full front panel and the first and second upper edges of the first and second back shoulder support panels. 
     
     
         3 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the outer edges of the first and second back shoulder support panels are permanently attached to the first and second side edges of the full front panel. 
     
     
         4 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the outer edges of the first and second back shoulder support panels are releasingly engageable with the first and second side edges of the full front panel. 
     
     
         5 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the full front panel has a full front panel height of from 1 to 6 feet and a full front panel width of from 1 to 3.5 feet. 
     
     
         6 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the partial back panel has a partial back panel height of from 6 inches to 18 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the partial back panel height is less than 50 percent of the full front panel height. 
     
     
         8 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the partial back panel height is less than 40 percent of the full front panel height. 
     
     
         9 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the neck opening has an adjustable neck opening width of from 7.5 to 30 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second upper shoulder portions have an upper shoulder portion width of from 3 to 6 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the upper shoulder portion width is at least 40 percent of the neck opening width. 
     
     
         12 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the neck opening width is at least 35 percent of the full front panel width. 
     
     
         13 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second upper shoulder support portions of the first and second back shoulder support panels are stitched to the first and second upper shoulder portions of the full front panel. 
     
     
         14 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side edges of the first and second back shoulder support panels comprise engageable fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The adult bib of  claim 14 , wherein the engageable fasteners of the first and second side edges comprise hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         16 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , further comprising a decorative collar adjacent to the upper edge of the full front panel. 
     
     
         17 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the full front panel comprises at least two layers of material. 
     
     
         18 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the full front panel comprises an outer fabric layer and an inner liquid impermeable liner. 
     
     
         19 . The adult bib of  claim 18 , wherein the fabric layer comprises cotton, nylon, polyester or a combination thereof, and the inner liquid impermeable layer comprises polyethylene, rubber, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The adult bib of  claim 1 , wherein the full front panel further comprises a storage pocket comprising a bottom edge, first and second side edges, and a top edge, wherein the bottom edge of the storage pocket is attached to the bottom edge of the full front panel, the first side edge of the storage pocket is attached adjacent to the first side edge of the full front panel, the second side edge of the storage pocket is attached adjacent to the second side edge of the front body panel, and an opening formed between the top edge and the full front panel. 
     
     
         21 . The adult bib of  claim 20 , wherein the full front panel and the storage pocket comprise engageable fasteners.