the following description is provided to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the invention , and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the invention . the present invention shall not be limited to the examples disclosed . rather , the scope of the invention shall be as broad as the claims will allow . various inventive features are described below that may each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features . however , any single inventive feature may not address any of the disadvantages or objects discussed above , or might address only one of the disadvantages or objects discussed above . further , one or more of the disadvantages or objects discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below . referring now to the drawings , fig1 presents a perspective view of a multi - purpose dental bib 10 in use by a patient 1 , according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention . in this exemplary embodiment , the multi - purpose dental bib 10 may comprise a generally rectangular apron 20 , the apron 20 having a plurality of windows 26 and pockets 28 . as illustrated in fig1 , the multi - purpose dental bib 10 may be held in place over the chest of a patient 1 by means of a bib clip 12 . the bib clip 12 may be selected from the plurality of currently available designs , or a future design . fig2 presents a front view of the multi - purpose dental bib 10 of fig1 , according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention . the apron 20 may comprise an absorbent layer 22 on the front side of the apron 20 , and an impermeable layer 24 on the back side of the apron 20 . the absorbent layer 22 may be designed to capture liquid and / or solid debris generated during a dental procedure . the absorbent layer 22 may comprise one or more sheets of an absorbent material . the one or more sheets of absorbent material may be constructed of any material that is appropriate to the intended function , such as a wood - pulp paper , cotton padding , or another natural or synthetic absorbent material , and may be similar in construction to a household paper towel or of a woven or quilted construction . an impermeable layer 24 may be disposed over the back side of the absorbent layer 22 . the impermeable layer 24 may be designed to protect the garments of a user 1 by preventing liquids from penetrating through the apron 20 . the impermeable layer 24 may be made of any material that is appropriate to the intended function , such as a flexible plastic sheet or ply . the impermeable layer 24 may be affixed to the back side of the absorbent layer 22 by any practical means , such as heat bonding , an adhesive , or stitching . a multi - purpose dental bib 10 may comprise one or more windows 26 and / or pockets 28 , of various shapes and sizes , that may be integrated into the apron 20 . the exemplary embodiment presented in fig2 incorporates three pockets 28 on the left edge of the apron 20 , three pockets 28 on the right side of the apron 20 , and four windows 26 near the bottom edge of the apron 20 . fig3 presents a perspective detail view illustrating the construction of a window 26 of the multi - purpose dental bib 10 of fig1 , according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention . an aperture 30 may be cut or otherwise formed through the absorbent layer 22 in a position on the apron 20 where a window 26 is desired . a gauze pad 32 may be positioned between the absorbent layer 22 and the impermeable layer 24 such that the gauze pad 32 may be essentially centered beneath the aperture 30 . the impermeable layer 24 may then be attached to the back side of the absorbent layer 22 , thereby capturing the gauze 32 beneath the aperture 30 . typically , in medical and dental applications , gauze is a woven cotton material . however , the gauze pad 32 may be made of any material that is appropriate to the intended function , such as a wood - pulp paper , cotton padding , or another natural or synthetic absorbent material , and may be similar in construction to a household paper towel or of a quilted construction . fig4 a presents a perspective detail view illustrating the construction and use of a pocket 28 of the multi - purpose dental bid 10 of fig1 . an aperture 36 may be cut or otherwise formed through the absorbent layer 22 in a position on the apron 20 where a pocket 28 is desired . a gauze pocket 34 may be positioned between the absorbent layer 22 and the impermeable layer 24 such that the gauze pocket 34 may be essentially centered beneath the aperture 36 . the impermeable layer 24 may then be attached to the back side of the absorbent layer 22 , thereby capturing the gauze pocket 34 beneath the aperture 36 . the gauze pocket 34 may be constructed in a variety of alternative manners . in one exemplary embodiment , the gauze pocket 34 may be constructed of two gauze pads placed face - to - face against one another . in another alternative embodiment , the gauze pocket 34 may be made of a single gauze pad folded over upon itself . the pocket 28 may be designed and configured such that , as the gauze pocket 34 is captured beneath the aperture 36 , an opening 38 is formed into which a dental instrument may be inserted . fig4 a illustrates the pocket 28 being used to clean a dental instrument , in this example a dental mirror 50 . as will be apparent to one with skill in the related art , a pocket 28 may be constructed in a variety of manners , each of which is within the contemplated scope of the claims of this patent disclosure . fig4 b presents a front detail view illustrating one alternative construction of a pocket 28 of the multi - purpose dental bib 10 of fig1 , according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention . in this alternative embodiment , the pocket 28 may be constructed in the same manner as described and illustrated in fig4 a , except that the front - most gauze pad may be configured such that the outermost edge of the front - most gauze pad may be recessed from the edge of the apron 20 . this construction facilitates the easy insertion of a dental tool , in this view a dental mirror 50 , into the gauze pocket 40 . fig4 a and 4b illustrate pockets 28 located proximal to an edge of an apron 20 , according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention . in alternative embodiments , a pocket 28 may be located at any useful location on an apron 20 . in an additional alternative embodiment , a pocket 28 may be configured without an aperture 36 . in alternative embodiments of the present invention , the windows 26 and pockets 28 may be configured , in size , shape , construction , and location on the apron 20 , to accommodate a variety of tasks , including cleaning the face and / or mouth of a patient , capturing various types of debris , and cleaning dentistry tools of various shapes and sizes . alternative embodiments of the present invention may incorporate a means for holding the multi - purpose dental bid 10 in place , generally over a patient &# 39 ; s chest , during dental procedures . these means may include adhesives , hook - and - loop fasteners , neck bands , clips , springs , or other practical means either currently known or to be defined in the future . it is within the contemplated scope of the claims of this patent disclosure that the multi - purpose dental bib 10 may be useful in applications beyond dentistry , including medical applications , baby bibs , and adult bibs , among others . as will be appreciated by those with skill in the related arts , the elements of the present invention may be modified , interchanged , separated or combined , or additional elements added without departing from the spirit of the invention . the invention may be practiced in alternative embodiments other than those illustrated in the figures . such modifications , combinations , additions and alternatives are within the contemplation of the present invention . the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to limit the scope of this invention . accordingly , the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated , but by their legal equivalents , and shall be as broad as the claims will allow .
a multi - purpose dental bib , to be worn by a patient during a dental procedure , may incorporate gauze pads into windows and / or pockets integral to the bib . the multi - purpose dental bib may be employed to protect the patient &# 39 ; s clothing from liquid and / or solid debris generated during a dental procedure , and to wipe the patient &# 39 ; s face and mouth during or at the completion of a dental procedure . the multi - purpose dental bib may additionally be employed to clean dental tools , such as a dental mirror , during a dental procedure by means of the gauze pads incorporated into the windows and / or pockets strategically located on the multi - purpose dental bib .