US2364258A - Kit apron - Google Patents

Description

H. S. WALLACE KIT APRON Filed July 22, 1942 Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KIT APRON Hugh Stanley Wallace, Ingram, Pa.

Application July 22, 1942, Serial No. 451,980

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to apparel and more particularly to akit apron or garment protector, and the method of making and folding the same. I

This apron may be advantageously used as a kit to contain tools or supply units for workmen, and it is particularly useful as a first aid casualty kit for storing, carrying and dispensing bandages, antiseptics, surgical implements and supplies.

The principal object of this invention is "the provision of anapron which is convenient for storing, carrying and dispensing the supplies of workmen.

Another object is in the method of constructing the apron and the pockets sewed thereon.

' Another object is inthe method of folding the apron into kit form so that the neck strap serves as a carrying handle.

Another object is the provision ofia case for.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the second step of folding the apron by turning down the top portion thereof.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the third step of folding the apron by turning in one side thereof.

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the kit apron completely folded and tied.

Fig. 6 is a View illustrating the apron enclosed in a container or case.

Referring to the drawing, the apron I0 may be made up of any suitable fabric, such as canvas, denim, white duck, celanese, rubberized-cloth, r other waterproof protective materials. The latter material may be impervious to poison gas and thus provide an extra protection to materials contained in the kit.

The apron has a skirt portion II and a bib portion I2. The sides .of the bib portion are preferably arcuately cut on the bias, as indicated at l3, to fit the person of the wearer in front of the arms. A neck strap I4 is secured at its ends to the top of the bib l2. This neck strap also serves as a handle which is described hereinafter.

A chest band 15 and a belly band l6 may be secured to the back of the apron to reinforce the fabric at the neck and the waist line. The chest band'encloses a stiffener such as a piece of light flexible metal, wood, bone or the like to keep the ends of the neck strap 14 in spaced relation. Right and leftapron strings l1 and I8 are secured to'the upper portion of the skirt I l on or adjacent to the ends of the belly band 16. i

The apron is preferably provided with two rows of patch pockets 20 and 2|; The upper row of pockets 20 is secured to bib 12 and may extend to the bottom of the belly band It. The lower row of. pockets 2| is secured to the skirt ll of the apron and extend upwardly from the bottom of the skirt with their mouths or openings spaced from the upper row of pockets- Two pockets are shown in the upper row and three are shown in the lower row. The pockets in the lower row are preferably larger than the pockets in the upperrow. It will be noted that the intermediate pocket in the lower row is substantially the same width as both of the pockets in the upper row and also the top of the bib.

Each row of pockets is formed'from a single piece of material. Thisv material is folded at the center .of each pocket. into opposing vertical, pleats 22 which are sewed along the top of the material, as indicated at 23. The material is then sewed along both sides 24 and along the bottom 25 to the apron. The material is also sewed to the apron intermediate of the pleats, as indicated at 26, to form the individual pockets in each row. Thus the material at the mouth or opening of each pocket is made taut across the front by the stitching 23 but the pockets may expand intermediate the top and bottom thereof due to the vertical pleats 22, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Small open bottom loops or pockets 2'! may be provided on the upper row of pockets for carrying pencils, thermometers, scissors, scalpel or .the like.

When the apron is properly folded it becomes a kit that is easily stored or carried. The first step in folding the apron is illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the skirt is folded along a medial line between the two rows of pockets with the pockets on the skirt H covering the pockets on the bib i2.

The neck strap l4 and the upper portion of the bib [2 are then folded down over the back of the skirt H, as shown in Fig. 3, forming a rectangular pack. The left side of the apron is then folded over the top of the bib l2, as illustrated in Fig. 4. A ring 28 or other suitable catch member is secured to the back of the skirt to threadably receive the apron string [8. The right side of the ap on is then folded over the left side enclosing the string 18 as shown in Fig. 5. A second ring 29 is secured to the back of the apron on the left side in the vicinity of the belly band I6, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Either apron string may be threaded through this ring to permit them to encircle the kit in opposite directions so that they may be tied, as indicated in Fig. 5.

In folding the apron in thirds it is possible to retain the neck strap 14 in the center .of .thepack. Thus when it is used as a carrying handle it supports the kit from the center of the load. The folding of the apron in thirds also demonstrates the advantage of having three pockets in the lower row and two smaller pockets in ithe 1 upper row which ar substantially the same width as the center pocket in the lower row. Thus when foldedin kit form the :two small pockets and the intermediate pocket are on .one side of the neck strap and the two outerpocke'ts of the lower row are 'on the other :side, which balancesthe kit and the topaof the bib-is'placed approximately at the (center of gravity of the load.

.A closuremember-or baglflll having theigeneral shape of the "foldedikit when loaded-witn-supplies may be provided to receive the kit, as illustrated in Fig. 6. A flap 31 is provided on'thebag and may be :folded through :the neck strap and 'secured :to the front by'thexsnaps shown zit-32 to completely enclose the kit, keepingt'it dry :and clean. A 'stifiening member 33,-such-asa light piece of flexible metal, wood, bone :orthe like may be sewed or 'otherwise secured across the under '-.side of'thetflap 3| to retain :the shape-of the top of the bag, pausing the nack strap to extend laterally at either .side from :the ifiap "to provide a complete enclosure :of i'therkit, keeping ltire'e trom dust Fand'moisture. This rein'ioreing member can be supplied with hooks or Isn aps -84 ior'se'curing the enclosedkltto'a 'flBIdISGIViOI-l "belt o'r the like. When used in thisimannertthehandie or neck strap l4 may be packed rtemporarily within the bag.

'When the apron is properly fitted out with supplies such as that required by "a doctor or first aid workerand is'folded as *shown and described, the kit naturally assumes bulk and weight. When carried by the handle or neck strap the weight of the kit suspended from the top of the "bib pulls the "folds tighter, thereby drawingthe mouths of the pockets'more closely shut preventing the contents from spilling therefrom. It will be noted that each fold increases the sealing effect 01' the pocket openings and when the strings are tied tightly the belly band is drawn taut, further insuring closure of the pockets. When the wearer unties the kit and inserts the head through the neck strap, the apron will fall to its open position without spilling any of the contents from the pockets. This isadvantageous because-fliekitapronlends itself to vquick application when .needed.

I claim:

A kit apron to be folded and carried while filled with articles, and comprising a skirt, open-top pockets carried by the center and side portions 10:: the skirt, .a bib extending from the skirt, a

neck loop secured at its ends to the top of the bib,- said-en"ds aligned substantially with the side edges -.of the center pocket of the skirt, at least one open-top pocket carried by the bib and spaced upwardlyftrom the center pocket of the skirt and-centered relatively theretogthe distance from (the .top ut 'theapocket on the bib to the top of the ockets on the skirt being substantially the :same "the distance :irom the top of the pockets 'on athe skirt to the bottom of the skirt, atie secured to each :side oi'the skirt, said skirt being foldedup on re line coincidentwith the'top of the pockets on the skirt against :the front of the bib to close thefskirt pockets, the upperportionoi the bib beingifoldeddownon a line coincident-with the top oi'the pocket on the bib over the back of the skirt to close the bib pocket, with the'neckxloop extending beyond'the'fold oi the skirt, and 'the :sides oi the skirt carrying the outer'skirttpocketsbeing-folded cne'on the other over theneckioop and the center portion oi the skirt, the side pockets of the skirt "beingpcsitioned'on zthe opposite side of theneck loop from the center pocket otthe skirt and the pocket of the bib to balance the kit, each '01 the spaced sides of the neck loop extending from the center of ;the kit being 'adja'centthe line of one of the last mentioned folds-guidemeanson the back-of theiskirtitor the tie of the inner or the two folded sides oftheiskirt to prevent displacement of the latter, and the ties encircling the "kit and secured to prevent unfolding of the latter, the weight of the 'articleszin the pockets of the 'kitin'creasing the 'compactness of the kit when carried 'by the neck loop.

HUGH -WALLACE.

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