Barber's apron

Dec. 20, 1955

R. W. MARSHALL

BARBER’S APRON

2,727,240

<img file="US2727240A_D0001.tif" />

2,727,240

Patented Dec. 20, 1955

United States Patent Office

2,727,240

BARBER’S APRON

Riley W. Marshall, Kansas City, Mo.

Application October 7, 1953, Serial No. 384,611 1 Claim. (Cl. 2—50) ¹⁰

This invention relates to new and useful improvements 15 in barbers’ aprons adapted to be worn by barbers’ patrons while having their hair cut, shampooed, or the like, for protecting their clothing against hair cuttings, shampoo drippings, and the like.

The principal object of the present invention is the 20 provision of a barber’s apron having sleeve members provided therein adapted to receive the wearer’s arms, and so disposed that while protecting the wearer to his wrists, and providing that he may read, smoke, etc., the wearer may still withdraw his arms therefrom without 25 removing or disarranging the apron if he desires access to his pockets.

Another object is the provision, in an apron of the character described, of an integral trough-like formation along the lower edge thereof adapted to receive and trap 30 hair cuttings, and the soap and water of shampoos, whereby to further protect the wearer’s trouser legs or shirt.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of structure, convenience of use, and ease of cleaning or laundering. 35

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a barber’s apron embodying my invention, shown stretched out flat. 40

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the apron as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line HI—III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line IV—IV of Fig. 3.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts through- ⁴⁵out the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to the body portion of the apron. It is preferably formed of a pliable sheet plastic, since this material is waterproof and easily cleaned or washed to keep it sanitary, however it may be made of fabric, or other suitable material. The ⁵⁰edges thereof may be bound as by stitching 4 if so desired. Centrally of the upper edge thereof, the body member is cut away to form a notch 6 adapted to fit about the neck of the wearer, and the portions of the body member adjacent said notch are narrowed to form shoulder ⁵⁵pieces 8 adapted to pass over the wearer’s shoulders and to be secured together at the back of the wearer’s neck, as by pinning or other suitable means.

A pair of short sleeves 10 are set into the body member and extend forwardly therefrom, They may be formed ⁶⁰of the same material as body member 2. At their points of attachment to the body member said sleeves are at approximately elbow level of the wearer and said sleeves are of a length to extend from the elbow to the wrist

The lower edge portion 12 of body member 2 is folded ®⁵double and secured by lines of stitching 14 and 16 respectively along the upper and lower edges of the doubled portion. The doubled portion is curved forwardly, and upwardly to form a generally semi-cylindrical trough 18 adapted to receive and retain hair clippings or the soap * ® and water of a shampoo which may fall onto the apron and slide downwardly therealong. The extreme ends of the tumed-up portion, at the lower comers of the body member, are stitched to the body portion to close the ends of trough 18, said lower corners being rounded as indicated at 20 to prevent the formation of sharp comers in the trough which would be difficult to clean.

At regularly spaced intervals along the length thereof, trough 18 is provided with transverse pockets 22, each of said pockets being formed between the layers of the doubled portions of the body member by a double line of stitching 24 through both of said layers. Carried in each of said pockets is a flat, spring steel shaping member 26 which is pre-formed to a substantially semi-circular shape, whereby to hold the trough 18 open and in the proper contour. The number and spacing of said springs may of course be changed if desired. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that each spring 26 is provided with a straight portion 28 extending above trough 18 along body member 2. This tends to hold the trough in proper relation to the body member.

Thus it is apparent that a barber’s apron having several advantages has been produced. When the notch 6 is positioned about the neck of the wearer as previously described, and the wearer inserts his arms forwardly through sleeves 10, he is fully protected. The sleeves extend from his elbows to his wrists. He is given ample freedom of movement to read or smoke, but he nevertheless may withdraw his arms entirely from the sleeves, for access to his pockets as for other purposes, without removing or disarranging the apron. The trough 18 will receive any hair cuttings, shampoo drippings, or the like falling downwardly along the apron, thereby protecting those portions of his clothing which are beneath and not covered by the apron. The apron may be easily cleaned. In this connection it will be noted that each pocket 22 is provided with a slit 30 through which the associated spring 26 may be removed, whereby the apron may be more easily cleaned or laundered. Plastic fabrics may be kept sanitary simply by wiping with an antiseptic solution. If fabric is used, it is preferable that it be waterproofed in any suitable manner. The double thickness of the trough portion of the apron serves to provide a degree of reinforcing and stiffening which further insures that the trough will retain its shape properly.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that many minor changes of structure and mode of operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claim.