Field of the invention

The invention is in the field of textile accessories. More particularly, the invention relates to a protective apron with a mobile device holder.

Background of the invention

An apron is a widely used accessory which protects one's clothing while performing tasks such as cooking, baking and cleaning tasks, and particularly prolonged tasks, thus providing one with the assurance of freely performing tasks in an unclean environment.

With the rapidly expanding use of mobile devices, and in particular in smartphones, one would desire of being available for incoming calls/messages, at least for some timeframes along the day, and of being able to capture real-time events, self pictures, achievements and creations. Furthermore, mass quantities of information are accessible on-line, including cooking recipes and various Do-It-Yourself (DIY) guides, which one would desire to at least occasionally watch while performing a relevant task.

Having the mobile device accessible and usable, even when performing tasks in an unclean environment has become a necessity, yet it is well known that operating a mobile device in an unclean environment with the presence of oils, detergents, or other chemicals would risk the mobile device mechanically (i.e., the mobile device slipping and falling from a greasy hand) and chemically (wetness or chemical damaging the internal circuitry or the external surface of the mobile device). The natural storage location for a mobile device, while performing these tasks is the pocket of an apron, still, retrieving the mobile device for responding to an incoming conversation, viewing desirable information or for taking a photo, would still require one to stop the task, remove gloves or at least wash and dry hands.

It is an object of the present invention, to provide an apron with a mobile device holder, which allows the regular use of the mobile device while protecting and securing said device in an unclean environment. Summary of the Invention

An apron with a mobile device holder, comprising: a securement strap having a proximal edge attached to said apron (e.g., to its top portion) and a distal edge attached to a partially transparent protective casing, a protective casing adapted to encompass a mobile device, having a partially transparent enclosure with a secured closure flap, wherein the transparent portion of said enclosure is made of a durable thin material which bi-directionally passes visuals, sound and touch and wherein said flap is securely attached onto said partially transparent enclosure by durable attachment means, thereby protecting yet allowing the regular operation of said mobile device, and at least one pocket, adapted to comfortably encompass said protective casing, wherein the combined attachment point of said strap to said apron, the length of said strap, and the location of said at least one pocket, allows the effortless holding of said protective casing with said mobile device near the hears and at the waist level of a standing user of said apron, while restraining said protective casing with the mobile device from falling below the waist level of a standing user of said apron.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apron is woven of a textile material selected from the group of cotton, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a combination thereof.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the securement strap is fixedly (e.g., stitched) or detachably (e.g., by zippers, buckles and snap fasteners) attached to the apron.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the securement strap is fixedly (e.g., stitched) or detachably (e.g., by zippers, buckles and snap fasteners) attached to the protective casing.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the attachment means of the flap to the partially transparent enclosure are selected from the group of water resistant snap fasteners, water resistant scotch, suitably polarized magnets, and waterproof zipper; According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protective casing comprises grip assisting means of increased friction, which are selected from the group of rubber objects, silicon objects, objects with protruding stripes, objects with protruding stripes dots, or a combination thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apron is a half apron which is secured to the user's waist, wherein the securement strap is made of a flexible material which is short enough in its loose state to be entirely stored within the at least one pocket and long enough in its stretch state to allow an effortless holding of the protective casing at the user's chest level.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protective casing is fully transparent, or at least covering the front face and at least a portion of the rear area (i.e., which contain the rear camera) of the mobile device.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the transparent portion of the partially transparent enclosure is made of a transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the securement strap is selected from the group of band, string, chain, or a combination thereof, of a material selected from the group of corrosion resisting metal, rubber, fabric, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) band, or a combination thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figs. 1A-1B schematically illustrate the invented apron, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 2A-2B schematically illustrate the use of the invented apron, according to embodiments of the present invention; and

Detailed description of the drawings

The invention relates to a protective apron with a mobile device holder, comprising a securement strap which protects the mobile device from falling, and a protective casing which allows the stable grip and regular use of the mobile device in an unclean environment, such as holding and using a smartphone with bare of dressed with gloves greasy hands.

Figs. 1A-1B schematically illustrate the invented apron 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which apron 100 is comprised of a securement strap 110 with a proximal edge attached to the top portion of apron 100 and a distal edge attached to a partially transparent protective casing 120 which is adapted to encompass smartphone 130 at the waist level of the standing user of apron 100 (i.e., strap 110 is of a suitable length) while preventing the further falling of protective casing 120 (i.e., below the waist level of the standing user of apron 100). The attaching means 111 of strap 110 to apron 100 and the attaching means of casing 120 to strap 110 can be fixed (e.g., stitches), detachable (e.g., zipper, snap fasteners), or a combination thereof (e.g., strap 110 is fixedly attached to apron 100, and casing 120 is detachably attached to strap 110).

Apron 100 is woven of a textile material (e.g., cotton, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC)) and comprises a flexible or an adjustable neck strap 101, rear binding straps 102 and at least one suitably sized pocket 103 (shown in Fig. IB) to comfortably encompass casing 120 with smartphone 130. Casing 120 comprises a partially transparent enclosure 121 with a secured closure flap 122, wherein the transparent portion is made of a durable thin material which passes visuals (i.e., the user can effortlessly watch displayed information and the front/rear camera of smartphone 130 are unobstructed), sound (i.e., passes sufficient sound level for handling a conversation) and touch (i.e., for comfortably operating the touchscreen of smartphone 130) and wherein flap 122 is securely fastened onto enclosure 121 by durable fastening means (e.g., water resistant snap fasteners or scotch, suitably polarized magnets, waterproof zipper), thus protecting smartphone 130 from slipping out of enclosure 121 and from spilled liquids onto apron 100. According to another embodiment of the present invention, casing 120 comprises grip assisting means of increased friction (e.g., rubber or silicon objects having protruding stripes or dots) externally attached to enclosure 121. The described embodiment of Figs. 1A-1B is not limited to specific sizes, shapes and visual look of apron 100 and its comprising elements, or to specific textiles, or fastening and coupling means, as these can be selected and combined by the skilled person in the art in accordance with various desirable applications and fashionable designs, yet without departing the principals of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, apron 100 is a half apron which is secured to the user's waist, while securement strap 110 is made of a flexible material which is short enough in its loose state to be entirely stored within pocket 103 and long enough in its stretch state to allow an effortless holding of casing 120 with smartphone 130 at the user's chest level (e.g. for watching a recipe or an incoming message, for answering an incoming call using the speaker of smartphone 130).

Figs. 2A-2B schematically illustrates the use of the invented apron 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention, where Fig. 2A illustrates the insertion/retrieval of strap 110 for retrieving casing 120 with smartphone 130, and Fig 2B illustrates the holding and operating of smartphone 130 for performing common tasks such as sending a text message, capturing a photo and sharing it in the desirable social network (e.g., capturing a photo of a successfully cooked and plated dish, and sharing it with family and friends).

Although embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be carried out with many variations, modifications, and adaptations, without exceeding the scope of the claims.