Hand-worn tissue holder nose wipe band

Abstract

A hand-worn holder and nose wipe band comprises a soft, absorbent, washable fabric strap with a plurality of tissue-holding slits therein and a thumb opening at each end thereof allowing the band to be secured to a user's hand. A tissue (or tissues) or a handkerchief is inserted through the tissue-holding slits positioned on the back of a user's hand so that the tissue extends out on both sides of the slits to provide a hand-worn holder. The device itself may alternately be used as a nose wipe in the absence of tissues.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This utility patent application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/766,342, filed Jan. 11, 2006.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wearable tissue holders and particularly to a hand-worn band holder for holding and carrying of facial tissue or handkerchiefs and ready wiping of a user's nose which permits easy access of the tissue for use during sports, gardening or other activities that make it inconvenient to find a tissue; the hand-worn holder comprises a fabric strap having a plurality of tissue-holding slits therein and also a thumb encircling aperture at each end thereof, a first thumb encircling aperture is placed about the thumb, the strap wrapped around the hand and the second thumb encircling aperture is placed about the thumb to secure the device, the device itself may alternately be used as a nose wipe in the absence of tissues.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Many people experience nasal drip while working or playing or exercising outdoors in cooler weather. Digging through pockets for a tissue or handkerchief is very inconvenient if the hands are otherwise occupied, especially if the user is wearing gloves. The prior art does not adequately address the problem of having a tissue or handkerchief in a position on the body of a wearer for ready use, especially located on a back of a user's hand.

U.S. Patent Application #20020084279, published Jul. 4, 2002 by Lickstein, shows a wearable dispenser suitable for containing tissues. The connector is a wristband which can be worn about a wrist of a child.

U.S. Patent Application #20040031120, published Feb. 19, 2004 by Cherian, claims a wiping means to help skiers, hunters, cyclists, tennis players and others in keeping their nose clean and dry. The device may also be used to wipe sweat from foreheads. Various embodiments are shown. For example, the wipes can be attached to gloves, or to sleeves of jackets, or can simply be in the shape of a wristband or armband. Wipes can be covered for esthetic reasons. Wipes and their components can be provided together with their base patches; or separately, where users can purchase spare sponges to apply to their existing patches. Both patches and/or sponges can be of various colors and/or imprinted with logos, trade names, or other advertising information.

U.S. Patent Application #20020073475, published Jun. 20, 2002 by Bloom, describes a nose wipe accessory for outerwear, which allows a user thereof to attend to a runny nose while wearing gloves in an environment in which the person's movement is restricted. The nose wipe accessory includes an outer flap fixed along one edge thereof to the sleeve of an outerwear garment, the remaining edges of the outer flap removably attached to the sleeve of the garment, such that the flap may be readily opened to allow access to a disposable nose wipe insert releasably retained on the sleeve. A lotion insert may be disposed between the nose wipe insert and the sleeve to allow a user to apply a soothing lotion emitted therefrom to the user's nose. Alternatively, the nose wipe accessory may be attached to an armband worn on a sleeve, or may be attached to a sleeve with straps, allowing the user to wear the nose wipe accessory interchangeably with multiple outerwear garments.

U.S. Patent Application #20020103466, published Aug. 1, 2002 by Petix, discloses an apparatus for absorbing nasal drip during an activity, the apparatus consisting of a means for encapsulating at least one digit of a hand with a flexible, absorbent material. The apparatus is secured to the hand by means of a strap extending from the absorbent material that is secured about the wrist of the user. The apparatus may be sized to fit over a gloved hand to enable the use of the apparatus in different conditions.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,057, issued Jan. 13, 1981 to Burnham, provides a nasal drip absorbing device for use in cold weather which includes an absorbent pad with a removable connection member at its underside, cooperative with a matching attachment member permanently secured to an article of clothing, so that the pad may be readily attached to and detached from the article. The article of clothing is an outer garment worn in cold weather, such as a glove or a coat sleeve, or it may be an elastic band which may be worn over the sleeve or the glove. The absorbent pad may be of washable fabric or of a disposable material such as layered paper.

U.S. Patent #D446,381, issued Aug. 14, 2001 to Garfield, shows the ornamental design for a cuff-like wristkerchief.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,889, issued Aug. 27, 1985 to Taylor, claims a face and nose wiper holder for skiers, adapted for attachment to the lower arm of the skier and having a retractable cover exposing the wiper for use by the skier without removal from the holder. The holder is adapted for use of facial tissue sheet wipers or of pre-packaged absorbent pad wipers. According to another aspect of the invention, the wiper holder may be adapted for use upon the wrist of one of the skier's gloves.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,426,797, issued Aug. 22, 1922 to Wangelin, describes a handkerchief retainer for gloves that comprises a loop attachable to the glove, which holds a kerchief in an easily accessible place.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,242, issued Feb. 21, 1989 to Bolton, discloses a tissue packet holder for incorporation in a leather ski-glove or other like article of clothing. The device includes a packet-receiving opening in the outer layer of the article, the edges of the opening holding the sides of the packet, and an inner layer of material for supporting the bottom, major surface of the packet. There is a first, generally rectangular and flexible packet-retaining flap having a tissue-passing aperture therein and pivotally secured along one of its sides to the article outer layer, adjacent the packet-receiving opening. The periphery of the inner major surface of this first flap is equipped with a Velcro strip and the packet-receiving opening is bordered with a complementary Velcro strip. Thus the first flap is foldable to a closed position in which its Velcro strip engages the complementary Velcro strip, and inner surface portions of the flap engage the top of the packet to hold it against outward movement. The aperture allows tissues to be dispensed from the secured packet. A second, generally rectangular over-flap is also Velcro equipped and has one end secured to the article outer layer, and is foldable entirely over the closed first flap and is releasably held in that position by engagement with a complementary Velcro strip on the article outer layer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,521, issued Jan. 13, 1998 to Haney, indicates a glove for use by persons engaged in sports and work activities which has a pair of first pads attached to a back portion, the first pads having surfaces of a first character, and a removable cushion made of an absorbent cloth and having a pair of second pads with surfaces of a second character for gripping detachable engagement with the first pads, whereby engagement of the cushion to the glove provides an absorbent cushion for wiping perspiration from a user wearing the gloves.

What is needed is a hand-worn holder for holding and carrying of facial tissue or handkerchiefs which permits easy access of the tissue for use during sports, gardening or other activities that make it inconvenient to find a tissue.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is a hand-worn holder and nose wipe band of soft absorbent washable fabric which wraps around a user's hand with a pair of slits through the fabric on the back of the hand of the user for holding and carrying facial tissue or a handkerchief inserted through the slits and under the fabric between the slits to hold the tissues or handkerchief on the back of the user's hand to permit easy access to the tissues or handkerchief for use during sports, gardening or other activities that make it inconvenient to find a tissue.

In brief, the present invention provides a hand-worn holder and nose wipe band comprising a soft absorbent washable fabric strap having a plurality of tissue-holding slits therein and also a thumb encircling aperture at each end thereof. A first thumb encircling aperture is placed about the thumb, the strap wrapped around the hand and the second thumb encircling aperture is placed about the thumb to secure the device. A tissue (or tissues) or a handkerchief is inserted through the tissue-holding slits positioned on the back of a user's hand so that the tissue extends out on both sides of the slits to provide a hand-worn holder for holding and carrying facial tissues or handkerchiefs which permits easy access of the tissue for use during sports, gardening or other activities that make it inconvenient to find a tissue, especially when the hands are dirty or holding items. The device itself may alternately be used as a nose wipe in the absence of tissues.

The present invention fits on either hand of a user in a convenient wiping location on the back of a wrist of a user and holds tissues or a handkerchief easily inserted and removed from the present invention and protruding from the invention on two ends of the tissue or handkerchief, ready for a user to wipe his/her nose.

A primary advantage of the present invention is that it keeps tissues or a handkerchief ready for use whenever needed when a user is out walking, running, skiing, hiking or biking, or if a user just needs to keep tissues handy.

A related advantage of the present invention is that the invention is fabricated of a soft absorbent washable material so that the outer surface of the invention itself may be used to wipe a user's nose.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it eliminates hassling with taking off gloves and digging through pockets to find a tissue or handkerchief when needed.

One more advantage of the present invention is that it may be fabricated in a variety of different colors and patterns of material as desired to vary the look and match the clothing of a user.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it may be worn on either the right or the left hand.

An additional advantage of the present invention is that it is washable and reusable.

A contributory advantage of the present invention is that it is very inexpensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the hand-worn tissue holder nose wipe of the present invention on a right hand of a user with a tissue inserted for use;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the hand-worn tissue holder nose wipe of FIG. 1 on a right hand of a user with no tissue inserted;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hand-worn tissue holder nose wipe of the present invention showing the two thumb openings and the two sets of tissue and handkerchief receiving slits for alternate right hand or left hand use;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the hand-worn tissue holder nose wipe of the present invention on a left hand of a user with a tissue inserted for use;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the hand-worn tissue holder nose wipe of FIG. 4 on a left hand of a user with no tissue inserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-5, a hand worn tissue holder nose wipe band device 20 comprises a nose wipe band 21 for receiving a nose wiping sheet of material 30, such as a tissue or a handkerchief, removably insertable with exposed ends on a back of a hand of a user, so as to be readily available to wipe the user's nose.

The nose wipe band 21 comprises an elongated sheet of fabric 27, which may have a border 28. In FIG. 3, the band is angled at a centerline between mid points 23 and 24 to form two angled arms 22A and 22B, each arm having a thumb opening 25A and 25B through the band adjacent to each end of the band. Both of the thumb openings receive a thumb of a user, with the band folded in half around the user's hand, with the center portion positioned around the outside heel of the user's hand adjacent to the wrist, and with one angled arm across the back of the user's hand, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5. At least one pair of spaced slits 26A and 26B through the band at approximately the middle of at least one of the angled arms receive at least one nose wiping sheet 30 of material inserted into one of the slits and out of the other of the two slits, leaving an exposed portion of the nose wiping sheet of material extending outwardly from the band on each side of the two slits. The slits are positioned centrally on the back of the user's hand so that the exposed portions of the nose wiping sheet of material extend across a portion of the back of the user's hand so that the exposed portions of the nose wiping sheet of material are available to wipe the user's nose. The nose wiping sheet of material is removable and replaceable in the slits.

In FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment, the nose wipe band 21 has at least one pair of slits 26A and 26B on each of the two arms 22A and 22B so that the device may be worn alternately on a user's left or right hand so that the pair of slits of one arm will be centrally positioned on the back of the user's right hand as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and alternately, the pair of slits of the other arm will be centrally positioned on the back of the user's left hand as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The elongated sheet of fabric 27 is soft to the skin and moisture absorbent and washable so that the nose wipe band is readily available for use to wipe the nose of the user in the absence of a nose wiping sheet of material.

The elongated sheet of fabric 27 may be made in a variety of colors and patterns to coordinate the nose wipe band with the user's clothing.

In use, a user inserts his/her thumb through one of the thumb openings 25A and 25B in the nose wipe band 21, and wraps the band around his/her hand, securing it by inserting the thumb through the other of the thumb openings, positioning the band in such a way that one pair of slits 26A and 26B is approximately in the center of the back of the user's hand. The user inserts at least one nose wiping sheet 30 of material, such as a tissue or a handkerchief, into one of the slits 26A and 26B and out of the other slit, leaving one end of the nose wiping sheet exposed and extending outward toward the left side of the hand and the other end of the nose wiping sheet exposed and extending outward toward the right side of the hand. Both ends of the nose wiping sheet are then available to wipe the user's nose. Alternatively, the nose wiping band may be worn without inserting a nose wiping sheet of material, and since the fabric is soft, absorbent, and washable, the nose wiping band itself may be used to wipe the user's nose.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A hand worn tissue holder nose wipe band device comprising:

a nose wipe band comprising an elongated sheet of fabric, the band angled at a mid point to form two angled arms, each arm having a thumb opening through the band adjacent to an end of the band to receive a thumb of a user through each of the thumb openings with the band folded in half around a hand of a user with one arm across a back of the hand of the user and at least one pair of spaced slits through the band proximate a middle portion of at least one arm to receive at least one nose wiping sheet of material inserted into one of the at least two slits and out of another of the at least two slits, having an exposed portion of the at least one nose wiping sheet of material extending outwardly from the band on each side of the at least two slits, the at least two slits positioned centrally on the back of the hand of the user so that the exposed portions of the at least one nose wiping sheet of material extend across a portion of the back of the hand of the user so that the exposed portions of the at least one nose wiping sheet of material are available to wipe the nose of the user, the at least one nose wiping sheet of material being removable and replaceable in the at least two slits.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongated sheet of fabric is soft to the skin and moisture absorbent and washable so that the nose wipe band is readily available for use to wipe the nose of the user in the absence of the at least one nose wiping sheet of material.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongated sheet of fabric is imprinted to coordinate the nose wipe band with clothing worn by the user.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one nose wiping sheet of material comprises at least one tissue.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one nose wiping sheet of material comprises at least one handkerchief.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the nose wipe band has at least one pair of slits on each of the two arms so that the device may be worn alternately on a left and a right hand of the user so that the at least one pair of slits of one arm will be centrally positioned on a back of the right hand of the user and alternately the at least one pair of slits of the other arm will be centrally positioned on a back of the left hand of the user.