Lap apron with fitted overhang and upwardly open pockets for use while seated

Abstract

The invention pertains to aprons covering the lap. The present invention provides a lap apron protecting the user's clothing or like for use while seated and eating or drinking. The lap apron is a technical advancement compared to prior art, because the lap apron is strapless and without fasteners or ties and uses a fitted overhang around the knees and lap to provide protection, stability, and comfort. The lap apron comprises a lap portion for covering the lap, waist, and knees of the user and upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap, which can be used to hold utensils, napkins, beverages or the like. One form of the lap apron only includes shorter pockets to hold beverages or the like. Another form of the lap apron does not include any pockets. The lap apron folds up into a convenient soft compact size like a cloth table napkin.

Claims

1. A lap apron comprising: a) a lap portion for covering the lap, waist, and knees of a user while seated without straps, fasteners or ties made of a flexible sheet material or the like; b) a fitted overhang portion around the knees and lap without straps, fasteners or ties made of a flexible sheet material or the like hanging from the sides of the lap portion, but not hanging from the side of the lap portion abutting the waist; and c) upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap located on the fitted overhang portion made of a flexible sheet material or the like.

2. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising one or more decorative graphics or logos disposed on a surface of the lap apron.

3. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising a rectangular lap portion.

4. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap located on the fitted overhang portion made of a flexible sheet material or the like with both a longer and shorter pocket on each side of the lap.

5. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap located on the fitted overhang portion made of a flexible sheet material or the like with only a shorter pocket on each side of the lap.

6. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap and in front of the knees located on the fitted overhang portion made of a flexible sheet material or the like with both a longer and shorter pocket on each side of the lap.

7. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap and in front of the knee located on the fitted overhang portion made of a flexible sheet material or the like with only a shorter pocket on each side of the lap.

8. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a No. 1 cotton duck cloth.

9. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a substantially water resistant, substantially water repellant, or substantially water absorbent flexible sheet material or combination thereof.

10. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a substantially thermal insulating or thermal conductive flexible sheet material or combination thereof.

11. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a padded flexible sheet material.

12. The lap apron of claim 1, further comprising a flexible sheet material or the like, such as paper, plastic, fabric, cloth, polyester, nylon, vinyl, cardboard or foam.

13. A lap apron comprising: a) a lap portion for covering the lap, waist, and knees of a user while seated without straps, fasteners or ties made of a flexible sheet material or the like; and b) a fitted overhang portion around the knees and lap without straps, fasteners or ties made of a flexible sheet material or the like hanging from the sides of the lap portion, but not hanging from the side of the lap portion abutting the waist.

14. The lap apron of claim 13, further comprising one or more decorative graphics or logos disposed on a surface of the lap apron.

15. The lap apron of claim 13, further comprising a rectangular lap portion.

16. The lap apron of claim 13, further comprising upwardly open pockets on any or all sides of the lap portion or the fitted overhang portion made of a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a No. 1 cotton duck cloth.

17. The lap apron of claim 13, further comprising a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a substantially water resistant, substantially water repellant, or substantially water absorbent material or combination thereof.

18. The lap apron of claim 13, further comprising a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a substantially thermal insulating or thermal conductive flexible sheet material or combination thereof.

19. The lap apron of claim 13, further comprising a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a No. 1 cotton duck cloth or a padded flexible sheet material.

20. The lap apron of claim 13, further comprising a flexible sheet material or the like, such as paper, plastic, fabric, cloth, polyester, nylon, vinyl, cardboard, foam, or combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lap apron 1 in one embodiment of the present invention being worn by a user in a seated position;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a right side perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a left side perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2 when the fitted overhang is folded over onto the underside of the lap portion of the lap apron;

[0025] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2 when the fitted overhang is folded over onto the underside of the lap portion of the lap apron and then the left half is folded over onto the right half along the vertical centerline;

[0026] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2 when the fitted overhang is folded over onto the underside of the lap portion of the lap apron, then the left half is folded over onto the right half along the vertical centerline, and then the bottom half is folded over and onto the top half along the horizontal centerline;

[0027] FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2 when the fitted overhang is folded over onto the underside of the lap portion of the lap apron, then the left half is folded over onto the right half along the vertical centerline, then the bottom half is folded over and onto the top half along the horizontal centerline, and then the bottom half is folder over and onto the top half along the horizontal centerline;

[0028] FIG. 12 is a bottom right side perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 11;

[0029] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the lap apron 1 in another embodiment of the present invention being worn by a user in a seated position;

[0030] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the lap apron 1 in a third embodiment of the present invention being worn by a user in a seated position.

[0031] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the lap apron 1 in a fourth embodiment of the present invention being worn by a user in a seated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention provides a lap apron 1 protecting the user's 2 clothing 3 and 4 or like for use while seated in a chair 5 or like and eating or drinking from a bottle 6 or like. The lap apron 1 comprises a lap portion 7 for covering the lap, waist, and knees of the user and upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap 8, 9, 10, 11, which can be used to hold utensils, napkins, beverages 6 or the like. The lap apron 1 uses a fitted overhang around the knees and lap 12 and 13 to provide protection, stability, and comfort.

[0033] The lap apron 1 is made of a flexible sheet material or the like, cut and sewn or the like to create a lap portion 7 for covering the lap, waist, and knees of the user, a fitted overhang around the knees and lap 12 and 13, and upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap 8, 9, 10, 11, which can be used to hold utensils, napkins, beverages 6 or the like. The fitted overhang around the knees and lap 12 and 13 hangs from the sides of the lap portion 7, but not the side of the lap portion 7 abutting the waist. The lap portion 7 and fitted overhang portion 12 and 13 may also have one or more decorative graphics or logos, such as sports team or corporate logos or advertisements, attached thereto via a printing technique, decal, stitching, gluing or the like. The lap portion 7 shown is rectangular, but other shapes may also be used. The lap apron 1 is made of a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a No. 1 cotton duck cloth. The lap apron 1 may also be made of a flexible sheet material or the like, such as a substantially water resistant, substantially water repellant, or substantially water absorbent flexible sheet material or combination thereof. The lap apron 1 may also be made of a flexible sheet material or the like, such as paper, plastic, fabric, cloth, polyester, nylon, vinyl, cardboard, foam, or combination thereof.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the present invention shows a front perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 1. The form fitting overhang 12 is hemmed with stitching or the like 14.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the present invention shows a right side perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2. The longer pocket 9 is separated from the shorter pocket 11 by a vertical line of stitching or the like 15. Preferably, the height of the fitted overhang 13 is between 5 and 6.5 inches 16, although other suitable dimensions may be used. A flap folded up and in half is hemmed with stitching or the like 17, 18 and 19, and sewn or the like 20 and 21 to itself and the adjacent fitted overhang 12 comprising the fitted overhang 13 and the upwardly open pockets 9 and 11. The side of the lap portion 7 without a fitted overhang abutting the waist is hemmed with stitching or the like 22.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the present invention shows a top perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2. Preferably, the width of the lap portion 7 is between 12.5 and 16 inches 23 and the length is between 18 and 22.5 inches 24, although other suitable dimensions may be used.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment of the present invention shows a left side perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2. The longer pocket 8 is separated from the shorter pocket 10 by a vertical line of stitching or the like 25. Preferably, the height of the fitted overhang 26 is between 5 and 6.5 inches 27, although other suitable dimensions may be used. A flap folded up and in half is hemmed with stitching or the like 28, 29 and 30, and sewn or the like 31 and 32 to itself and the adjacent fitted overhang 12 comprising the fitted overhang 26 and the upwardly open pockets 8 and 10.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 6, an embodiment of the present invention shows a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2. Fitted overhang 12 is sewn or the like 33 and 34 to adjacent fitted overhangs 13 and 26.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 7, an embodiment of the present invention shows a rear perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 8, an embodiment of the present invention shows a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2 when the fitted overhang 12, 13 and 26 is folded over onto the underside of the lap portion 7 of the lap apron 1. A vertical centerline 35 is shown on the lap portion 7 of the lap apron 1.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 9, an embodiment of the present invention shows a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2 when the fitted overhang 12, 13 and 26 is folded over onto the underside of the lap portion 7 of the lap apron 1 and then the left half is folded over onto the right half along the vertical centerline 35 leaving a horizontal centerline 36.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 10, an embodiment of the present invention shows a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2 when the fitted overhang 12, 13 and 26 is folded over onto the underside of the lap portion 7 of the lap apron 1, then the left half is folded over onto the right half along the vertical centerline 35, and then the bottom half is folded over and onto the top half along the horizontal centerline 36 leaving a horizontal centerline 37.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 11, an embodiment of the present invention shows a bottom perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 2 when the fitted overhang 12, 13 and 26 is folded over onto the underside of the lap portion 7 of the lap apron 1, then the left half is folded over onto the right half along the vertical centerline 35, then the bottom half is folded over and onto the top half along the horizontal centerline 36, and then the bottom half is folder over and onto the top half along the horizontal centerline 37 with a preferably width between 5 and 6.5 inches 38 and a length between 6.5 and 8.5 inches 39, although other suitable dimensions may be used.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 12, an embodiment of the present invention shows a bottom right side perspective view of the lap apron 1 of FIG. 11.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 13, another embodiment of the present invention shows a perspective view of the lap apron 1 without longer upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap, but with shorter upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap 10 and 11.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 14, a third embodiment of the present invention shows a perspective view of the lap apron 1 without any pockets.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 15, a fourth embodiment of the present invention shows a perspective view of the lap apron 1 with upwardly open pockets on either side of the lap 8, 9, 10, 11 and in front of the knees 40.