Abstract
A disposable drape is provided including a collection region suitably positioned to protect a sink area including a sink basin and sink drain from grooming debris. In one embodiment, the collection region is constructed from material having properties to improve debris retention and aid disposal. The drape can be manufactured with patterned features to enhance forming into a shape such as a bowl. Furthermore, the drape is sufficiently thin, light, and flexible to be efficiently folded, packaged, transported, and stored until needed.
Claims
1. A disposable drape for protecting a sink area from grooming debris, comprising: A thin, flexible sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a predetermined size suitable to cover at least said sink area, A collection region covering at least a portion of said upper surface, At least one shape forming feature that provides for a predetermined formable shape of at least a portion of said collection region, At least one orientation feature that provides substantially reproducible and removable positioning of said collection region wherein said collection region is shaped and positioned to collect said grooming debris.
2. The disposable drape of claim 1 wherein said at least one orientation feature is chosen from a list including: a die-cut hole, a die-cut slit, a perforated slit, a reinforced hole, a weighted edge, a formed loop.
3. The disposable drape of claim 1 wherein said predetermined size includes an extended length and said at least one orientation feature includes a hole providing removable attachment to a user to form a bib.
4. The disposable drape of claim 1 wherein said collection region is characterized by a high surface area provided by said shape forming features chosen from a list including pleats, ridges, wrinkles, embossed shapes.
5. The disposable drape of claim 1 wherein said collection region is characterized by a high surface area provided by a fibrous structure designed to constrain debris that falls upon said fibrous structure.
6. The disposable drape of claim 3 wherein said fibrous structure forms a surface of vertically oriented fibers substantially brush-like thereby providing a surface to constrain debris that falls upon said surface of vertically oriented fibers.
7. The disposable drape of claim 1 wherein said at least one shape forming feature is a patterned guide positioned to enable a user to form said drape collection region into a receptacle shape.
8. The disposable drape of claim 1 wherein said collection region further comprises an upward facing adhesive portion.
9. The disposable drape of claim 1 wherein said collection region further comprises an upward facing water-activated-adhesive portion.
10. A method for protecting a sink area from grooming debris comprising the steps of: Providing a thin, flexible, disposable drape having a collection region, at least one shape forming feature, and at least one orientation feature Preparing said collection region Forming said collection region with the at least one shape forming feature Positioning said prepared and formed collection region to cover said sink area using the at least one orientation feature Collecting grooming debris Disposing of said disposable drape and said grooming debris
11. The method of claim 10 wherein preparing said collection region comprises the step of wetting the collection region.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein preparing said collection region comprises the step of uncovering an adhesive material coating the upward facing surface said collection region.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein said orientation feature is a hole and said positioning includes looping said hole over a faucet in said sink area.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein said shape forming feature is a visible guide pattern and said forming step comprises folding said drape according to said visible guide pattern.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] A more complete understanding of the present invention, its embodiments, and its advantages can be made with reference to the following description and drawings in which:
[0022] FIG. 1a is a top view of a user and the preferred embodiment of the present grooming drape.
[0023] FIG. 1b is a side view of a user and the preferred embodiment of the present grooming drape.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a top view of a drape sheet with tear away perforation and auxiliary regions.
[0025] FIG. 3a is a top view of a drape with added features in the auxiliary regions.
[0026] FIG. 3b is a side view of the drape configured to attach to a wall and extend forward.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a top view of a drape with a top surface adhesive pattern.
[0028] FIG. 5a is a top view of a drape with a top and bottom adhesive pattern.
[0029] FIG. 5b is an illustration of a drape in pouch form ready for disposal.
[0030] FIG. 5c is an additional view of a drape ready for disposal.
[0031] FIG. 6a is a top view of a drape with predefined fold lines.
[0032] FIG. 6b is a perspective of a drape shaped along fold lines forming a bowl.
[0033] FIG. 7a is a top view of a drape with pleats. The drape is in a partially compacted form.
[0034] FIG. 7b is a top view of a drape with pleats in an extended form.
[0035] FIG. 7c is a side view of a drape with pleats positioned adjacent to a faucet and vertical wall.
[0036] FIG. 8a is a top view of a user and an embodiment of the present grooming drape with an extended length and attachment to a user's neck. This is referred to as a grooming bib.
[0037] FIG. 8b is a side view of a user and an embodiment of the present grooming bib.
[0038] FIG. 9a is a top view of a grooming bib with die cut holes and perforations
[0039] FIG. 9b is a top view of a bib embodiment having a reinforced hole and slits for accommodating larger heads.
[0040] FIG. 10 is a top view of a bib embodiment with slits for accommodating faucets and heads.
[0041] FIG. 11a is a top view of a bib with removable perforated portions and adhesive regions.
[0042] FIG. 11b is a view showing a perforated portion of a bib or drape removed and the resulting ties adhered to one another.
[0043] FIG. 12a is a top view of a bib with pleats. The bib is in a partially compacted form.
[0044] FIG. 12b is a top view of a bib with pleats in an extended form.
[0045] FIG. 12c is a side view of a bib with pleats positioned adjacent to a faucet and vertical wall.
[0046] FIG. 13a is a top view of a bib with a die cut V removed and adhesive regions on bib tabs.
[0047] FIG. 13b is a perspective view of a bib boat formed by connecting bib tabs.
[0048] FIG. 14a is an illustration of a web of bibs stored in a roll for dispensing.
[0049] FIG. 14b is an illustration of a pleated bib compacted for storage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0050] FIGS. 1a and 1b depict the preferred embodiment of the present disposable grooming drape and its typical usage. In FIG. 1a, a drape 100 is shown with one edge secured around a faucet 160 with a die cut hole 130. This hole helps the user secure and orient the drape. An optional perforation 110 is located so the drape can be torn away gently when no longer in use. The opposite edge extends toward the user and the edge of the sink rim area. The collection region 105 (outlined in a dotted line for clarity) covers the sink and portions of the sink rim area 140 as shown in the side view of FIG. 1b. Auxiliary regions 200 and 210 are also indicated in FIG. 1b.
[0051] The general features of the present drape are shown in FIG. 2. The drape is a thin, flexible, rectangular sheet of disposable material 100 with a die cut hole 130 and at least one line of perforations 110 extending radially from the die cut hole. In this case, the perforation 110 provides an easy location to tear the drape when removing it from around a faucet. Auxiliary regions 200 and 210 are designated by dotted lines and are located along opposite edges of the drape. Several embodiments add features to these regions to improve the performance of the drape.
[0052] FIG. 3a shows a drape with features 310 and 300 positioned in respective auxiliary regions 210 and 200. In this embodiment, feature 310 is a temporary adhesive that can be used to attach the drape edge to an adjacent wall or the counter/sink rim area behind the faucet. The adhesive can be manufactured with a removable film covering. The user removes the film and sticks the edge to a wall. FIG. 3b shows region 210 secured to a wall in this way. Feature 300 is a bead of material that adds weight to the special region 200. FIG. 3b shows region 200 hanging off the edge of the sink rim area. The extra weight helps keep the drape from moving around.
[0053] An additional embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has an adhesive pattern 500 applied to the collection region 105 of the drape. The pattern can be in distinct areas as shown or covering the collection region in a uniform film. A suitable adhesive aids the collection of hair trimmings and debris. The region acts much like the adhesive on a lint collecting roller. Another adhesive pattern is shown in FIG. 5a. In this case, small adhesive patches 600 (B, C) are applied to the back side of the drape while patches 610 (A, D) are applied to the top side of the drape. Patches B and C are available to stick to the counter top or edge of the sink basin while patches A and D are available after using the drape to secure the debris and trimmings into a pouch. FIGS. 5b and 5c show several pouch forms. FIG. 5b forms a pouch 620 by using all four adhesive locations to stick all four corners into a bundle. FIG. 5c uses adhesive patches A and D to form a trough to roll up the drape and debris.
[0054] The collection region of the present drape can be further improved by deliberate forming of the surface geometry using shape forming features. FIG. 6a shows one embodiment of a formed drape. In this case, several fold lines 700 are pressed into the material or otherwise marked on the material. These fold lines cover the collection region which is not indicated in this view. FIG. 6b shows the resulting drape after creasing along lines 700. The drape in FIG. 6b has distinct bowl shape 710 that greatly improves collection of debris. It can be further improved with the features previously described such as adhesives, adhesive patches, etc. In a similar manner, a plurality of parallel folds 800 can be manufactured into the drape as shown in FIG. 7a. These folds allow the drape to be stored in a compressed form. When in use, the die cut hole is secured around a faucet and the opposite edge is pulled in the direction of the large arrow. The drape extends into a larger area to cover the sink basin as shown in FIG. 7b. The pleats provide troughs to capture debris. The pleated drape is combined with other features in FIG. 7c. Here, collection region 840 is shown with pleats held in position by both an adhesive region 830 stuck to a wall and a weighted region 850 hanging downward.
[0055] FIGS. 8a and 8b depict the typical usage of the present disposable grooming bib form. In FIG. 8a, a bib 10 is shown with one edge secured around a faucet 16 with die cut hole 13 and the opposite edge secured around the neck of a user with die cut hole 12. The extended portion of the bib 11, including collection region 17, covers the sink and sink rim area 14 adjacent to the vertical wall 15. FIG. 8b shows a side view of the bib and user. A collection region 17 hangs between the secured edges. This region acts like a hammock to collect and hold trimmings. This region can be modified to have adhesive or shape forming features.
[0056] The general features of the present bib are shown in FIG. 9a. In this case, the bib is a flat, rectangular sheet of disposable material with die cut holes 20 and 21. For example, the bib material can be paper, coated paper, or non-woven polymer textile or a combination. Other materials with enhanced debris collecting properties can be used. Perforations 22 and 24 can be added to let the user easily tear the bib away from the faucet or neck. FIG. 9b shows additions to the die cut holes. In one case, a reinforcement 26 is added to a hole. This can help keep the bib in place around the faucet if the bib gets wet or the bib is intentionally wetted and the user is moving and applying forces that would otherwise tear the bib. The reinforcement can be in the form of a cloth, fiber, or cardboard ring. In another case, a hole has slits added to its periphery. These slits 27 allow items to pass through that are larger than the diameter of the hole. For example, the hole can accommodate user's with different head diameters. FIG. 9b demonstrates how several innovative features can be combined in a single bib. FIG. 10 shows another bib embodiment with die cut hole slits 27 around at least two locations 31 and 32 to aid attachment to a variety of bathroom fixtures and head sizes.
[0057] Bib attachment is not limited to circular holes or slits. FIGS. 11a and 11b demonstrate a novel method for forming bib attachments. A disposable bib is formed with removable portions outlined with appropriate perforations 43. By tearing along the perforation, a portion 45 can be removed and two adjacent bib ties are formed. Example ties are shown as 41 and 42. In this embodiment, a region 40 is selectively adhesive and is located at the end of each tie. The adhesive is exposed when a cover film is removed (not shown). The ties can be connected with the adhesive as shown in FIG. 11b. A loop 44 is formed when the ties are adhered together or otherwise connected. A version without adhesive regions can simply be tied together. The formed loop is suitable to surround a user's neck or to be positioned around an adjacent faucet.
[0058] Several configurations of another embodiment are illustrated in FIGS. 12a, 12b, and 12c. The disposable bib is shown in FIG. 5a with a plurality of horizontal pleats. A portion of the pleats is represented by 50. In this case, the pleated bib has die cut holes 12 and 13 for attachment, but could also be manufactured with selectively adhesive portions. By pulling the bib in the direction of the large arrow, the bib expands for use. FIG. 12b shows an expanded, pleated bib. Note that pleated region 50 has now expanded to a larger region 51. FIG. 12c illustrates one useful configuration of the pleated bib. The pleats allow the bib to expand and contract during use as shown by the arrow. Furthermore, pleat valleys, such as 52, form areas to collect trimmings, thus enhancing debris collection in the collection region. FIG. 12c also shows an edge of the pleated bib 53 adhered to the vertical wall rather than secured around the faucet. In this case, the die cut hole 13 is not needed. The edge could be similarly attached to a portion of the sink rim behind the faucet. The pleated bib is an example of a formed or formable bib having shape forming features. In this case, the pleats are formed during manufacture.
[0059] FIGS. 13a and 13b represent an embodiment of the disposable bib whose shape forming features are in die cut portions and guides for folding. These features enable the user to form the bid (or drape) into a receptacle. A receptacle is a general reference to a concave shape similar to a bowl or the inside hull of a boat. FIG. 13a shows a bib with a die cut hole 12 and a die cut V 62. Die cut hole 13 is shown as 2 halves separated by the V. In addition, the bib has selective adhesive regions such as 61 and a line of fold shown as 60. The line of fold is not a perforation but is included to help visualize how the boat form in FIG. 13b is created. In this embodiment, the user removes the film covering the adhesive region and adheres it to the back of tab 64. The resulting boat form is shown in FIG. 13b. The boat form has a collection region 63 that has an improved shape for collecting and retaining trimmings and grooming debris. It also has a formed hole 13 for securing one edge of the bib to a faucet for example. In much the same way, the boat form is also amenable to a drape embodiment.
[0060] Both the disposable bib and drape have several advantages for efficient storage. For example, bibs with die cut holes are shown in FIG. 14a as portions of a roll of bibs. In this case, the bibs are manufactured on a long web and stored in a roll. A single bib can be removed by tearing along the perforation 70. A pleated bib is shown in a very compacted form in FIG. 14b. In this form, many pleated bibs can be stacked in a small volume, then removed and expanded when needed. Similarly, pleated or folded drapes can be packaged in convenient commercial formats. For example, a th folded drape is packaged in a 10 count pack. A single count packet would enclose a 1/32nd folded drape. In these cases, the fraction indicates the relative ratio of the folded area to the unfolded area.
[0061] While a number of practical and preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, they are not intended to be limiting. Various other additions, modifications, and arrangements are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
