Thermal bathwear

Abstract

A heatable robe comprises a coverlet, having at least one openable partition, and including a moisture absorbent material suitable for removing moisture from a wearer's body. At least one heating element is carried by the coverlet and is configured to generate heat in at least a portion of the coverlet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to heatable apparel that is wearable in wet environments.

2. Related Art

During cold seasons, people often wrap themselves in blankets, sweaters, coats and similar items in order to keep warm. While such items serve to insulate a person, thereby partially retaining a wearer's body heat, they are often cold when first donned by the wearer, and must be warmed by the wearer's body heat before they are comfortable. Additionally, they can be restrictive to the wearer, trapping limbs inside a wrap, or adding extra bulk that can interfere with the wearer's range of motion. Additionally, these layers generally must be removed in order for the wearer to cool off, effectively giving them only on or off settings.

Cold temperatures are often most noticeable to those exiting from a wet environment, such as stepping from a hot tub, bath, shower, or the like. The cooler air temperature combined with the moisture on a person's body can create a chilling effect wherein the person feels as if it is colder than the actual ambient temperature, and in fact can reduce a person's body temperature to below the ambient temperature. At such times a person will often wrap him or herself in a towel or robe in order to warm up and dry off. Such drying effectively transfers the moisture from the person's body to the towel, thereby wetting the towel. Initially, a towel wetted in this manner will have a temperature close to the body temperature of the bather. However, over time, the temperature of the towel will cool to that of the surrounding environment and the wet towel will become uncomfortably cold against the wearer's skin.

Cold temperatures are also noticeable to those who suffer from weather-aggravated ailments, such as arthritis, rheumatism or the like, and also by those who have exerted their muscles over a period of time while in a cold environment, such as when skiing, snowboarding, or the like. Application of heat pads, hot water bottles, and the like, can be helpful in relieving discomfort due to such ailments and exertion. However, heating devices, such as heat pads and water bottles, only apply heat to a localized area, leaving the remaining portions of the body un-warmed, or wrapped up in a blanket as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a method and device for warming a person's body without restricting the natural movement of the body. Additionally, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a method and device for drying and warming a person's body who has just exited from a wet environment, such as tub or shower, and who may remain in a wet environment, such as a bathroom or shower room. Moreover, it has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a method and device for selectively warming a portion of a person's body to a predetermined temperature, while cooling or maintaining another portion of a person's body at a different temperature.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a heatable robe configured to be worn on a wearer's body. The heatable robe can include a coverlet having at least one openable partition, and a moisture absorbent material that can remove moisture from the wearer's body. At least one heating element can be carried by the coverlet to distribute heat through at least a portion of the coverlet.

In a more detailed aspect of the invention, the present invention provides for a heated bathrobe including a bathrobe having a torso and a pair of sleeves that can be worn by a person. The bathrobe can also include an energizable power source that can be carried by the bathrobe. A thermal energy transfer array can be distributed through at least a portion of the bathrobe, and can be coupled to the energizable source. The thermal energy transfer array can receive energy from the energizable power source and can selectively distribute energy in the form of heat throughout selected portions of the bathrobe.

The present invention also provides for a method for warming a person exiting a wet environment, including placing a robe on at least a portion of person's body. The robe can be configured to absorb moisture. At least one heating element carried by the robe can be heated in order to distribute heat through at least a portion of the robe.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a heatable robe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, shown in a closed configuration;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a coverlet of the heatable robe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a heatable bathrobe in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, shown in a closed configuration; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of a heatable bathrobe in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, shown in a closed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

The present invention generally provides a heatable robe that can generate heat to warm the body of a person wearing the robe. The robe can have at least one partition that can be opened to allow the wearer to don the robe. The robe can have an array of heating elements distributed throughout the material of the robe. Each heating element can distribute heat into at least a portion of the bathrobe. The bathrobe can be made of an absorbent material that can draw moisture away from the wearer's body. The heating elements can be shielded from, or resistant to, moisture in the robe material. Each of the heating elements can be selectively activated to heat a select portion of the robe in order to warm a particular part of the wearer's body. In one aspect, the heating elements can collectively be heated to a common temperature, thereby heating substantially all of the robe to the same temperature. In another aspect, different portions of the robe can be heated to different temperatures. In use, a wearer can don the bathrobe, activate the heating elements to heat the robe to a comfortable temperature, and, if desired, open a partition to selectively cool portions of the wearer's body.

It will be appreciated that the general principles of the present invention can be applied to a number of bathing type garments, towels, or cold weather coverings. For convenience, and not by way of limitation, all of these types of coverings are herein referred to as “robes” or “bathrobes,” and a person using the present invention is herein referred to as a “weareror a “user” of the bathrobe.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a heatable robe, indicated generally at 10, is shown in accordance with the present invention, for use in warming a person wearing the robe. The robe 10 can include a coverlet 14 that can be sized to cover a portion of the wearer's body. The coverlet 14 can have a torso portion 18 and a pair of sleeves 22. The coverlet 14 can also have at least one openable partition 26 that can be opened to allow the wearer to wrap the robe about the wearer's body. A sash 30 can wrap around the robe and can be tied to secure the openable partition 26 in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1.

The robe 10 can also include at least one heating element 50. The at least one heating element 50 can be carried by the coverlet 14 and can be distributed throughout the coverlet in order to generate and distribute heat throughout at least a portion of the coverlet. In one aspect, the coverlet 14 can include a plurality of heating elements 50. The plurality of heating elements 50 can be distributed throughout the coverlet in an array and can define a thermal energy transfer array, indicated generally at 54. Each heating element 50 in the thermal energy transfer array 54 can radiate heat to a predetermined area of the coverlet 14. The array 54 can include a sufficient number of heating elements 50 to heat substantially the entire coverlet 14.

The heating elements 50 can be formed from a variety of materials known to those having ordinary skill in the art of such elements, including, without limitation, metallic heating elements, ceramic heating elements, etc.

The robe 10 can also include a controller 60. The controller 60 can be coupled to the heating elements 50 of the thermal energy transfer array 54. The controller can include a thermostat, rheostat, variable resistor, or the like, 62 that can control the temperature of the heating elements 50. In use, the wearer can adjust the controller 60 in order to increase or decrease the temperature of the heating elements 50, and thus control and adjust the temperature of the coverlet 14 to a comfortable temperature.

In one embodiment, the openable partition 26 can extend a length of the robe, and can be positioned to allow easy access to the sleeves 22. It will be appreciated that the openable partition 26 can be located in the front of the coverlet, as shown in FIG. 1, or the openable partition could be located at other locations. For example, the openable partition could be located along the back of the robe, as is common with hospital gowns, in order to enable third party assistance in donning the robe. Additionally, the openable partition could be located along one or both of the sides of the robe. Moreover, as noted above, the robe can have a plurality of openable partitions, such as a front partition and a back partition, as desired.

The openable partition 26 of the robe provides several advantages to the heatable robe 10 of the present invention. For example, the partition can be opened to adjust the size of the robe, thereby minimizing restriction of the wearer's limbs. Additionally, the openable partition 26 can give the wearer additional control of the temperature affecting the wearer's body. Specifically, the robe 10 can be opened at the openable partition 26 in order to cool a portion of the wearer's body, while the heating elements 50 are distributing heat throughout the robe 10 covering the remaining portion of the wearer's body.

In this manner, a portion of the wearer's body can be cooled, while another portion can be heated by the robe. For example, in the case where the openable partition 26 is positioned in the front of the robe 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the wearer can activate the heating element 50 to heat the robe and warm the wearer's body. The wearer can then open the front of the robe 10 at the openable partition 26 and at least partially expose the front portion of the wearer's body. With the front of the robe 10 opened at the openable partition 26, the front exposed portion of the wearer's body can cool in the ambient environment while the back portion of the wearer's body can remain covered and heated by the robe 10. In this way, the wearer can selectively reduce the temperature of a selected, exposed portion of the wearer's body.

The robe 10 can also include an energizable power source 52 that can be coupled to the at least one heating element 50. In one aspect, the at least one heating element 50 can be an electrical heating element that can be coupled to an electrical power source, such as a battery 56 or an electrical plug 58 that can be plugged into an electric wall socket. It will be appreciated that the robe 10 can have both a battery 56 and an electrical plug 58, and that the battery can be a rechargeable battery that can be recharged by electricity from the electrical plug.

The coverlet 14 can include a moisture absorbent material, such as terry cloth, cotton, wool, polyester, or the like. The moisture absorbent material can remove moisture from the wearer's body. In one aspect, the moisture absorbent material can include a wicking material, such as wool fibers or cotton threads that can draw moisture away from the wearer's body. In this way, the wearer can don the robe 10 after exiting a wet environment, such as a hot tub, bath, shower, or the like, and the robe 10 will absorb moisture from the wearer's body, thereby drying the wearer, while also warming the wearer's body via heat produced by the heating elements.

Referring to FIG. 2, a cross section of a section of coverlet 14 is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The coverlet 14 can have a thermal energy transfer array 54 including a plurality of heating elements 50 disposed between two outer layers 70 of moisture absorbent material. A moisture resistant barrier 74 can be disposed about the heating elements 50 to isolate the heating elements from moisture to reduce the possibility of damaging the heating elements or causing a potentially dangerous electrical short in the heating elements.

It will be appreciated that in the case where the thermal energy transfer array 54 is comprised of electrical heating elements, moisture contacting the heating elements 50 can damage the robe and possibly injure the robe wearer. Advantageously, the moisture barrier 74 can allow the wearer of the robe 10 to don the robe after exiting a wet environment without damaging the robe or risking injury to the wearer.

It is a particular advantage of the present invention that the wearer of the robe 10 can don the robe after exiting a wet environment such as a hot tub, bath, or shower. It will be appreciated that normally a person exiting such an environment will use a towel or robe to dry off, thereby transferring moisture to the towel and wetting the towel. In such a circumstance, the towel is subject to cooling due to exposure to a cooler ambient temperature, and, after time, the towel can be come uncomfortably cold to the wearer. In contrast, the heatable robe 10 of the present invention maintains the temperature of the robe at the temperature selected by the wearer even after the robe becomes wet. Advantageously, this elevated temperature not only keeps the wearer warm while wearing a wet robe, but can also accelerate the drying time of the wet robe. Thus, a wearer can comfortably wear the robe for long periods of time, even when the robe is damp or wet.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a heatable bathrobe, indicated generally at 100, is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The bathrobe 100 is similar in many respects to the robe 10 shown in FIG. 1. The bathrobe 100 can also include a coverlet 14, and the coverlet can include a plurality of heating elements 50. The plurality of heating elements can be separated to define a plurality of selectively heatable regions of the bathrobe. For example, the bathrobe 100 can have an upper right torso heatable region 110, an upper left torso heatable region 114, a lower right torso heatable region 118, a lower left torso heatable region 122, a right arm heatable region 126, and a left arm heatable region 130. The bathrobe 100 can also include a hood 140 and the plurality of heating elements 50 can extend into the hood defining a head heatable region 134.

Each of the selectively heatable regions 110, 114, 118, 122, 126, 130 and 134 can be heated to, and maintained at, a different temperature. Specifically, each of the plurality of heating elements 50 can be selectively activated to distribute heat to one of the plurality of heatable regions. The bathrobe 100 can include a controller 160 that can be coupled to the plurality of heating elements 50 to selectively activate the heating elements in a particular selectively heatable region in order to heat each of the heatable regions to a temperature selected by the bathrobe wearer.

Advantageously, selectively heating a region of the bathrobe 100 allows the wearer to apply more heat to different portions of the wearer's body. This can be a particular advantage to those who suffer from weather affected ailments or overextended muscles. For example, arthritis or rheumatism patients suffering with back pain, or skiers with sore back muscles, can adjust the bathrobe 100 to apply a higher temperature to the back portion of the bathrobe to treat the ailment with heat therapy.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, another heatable bathrobe, indicated generally at 200, is shown in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The bathrobe 200 can be similar in many respects to the bathrobes 10 and 100 described above and shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The bathrobe 200 can have a coverlet 214 that can carry at least one heating element 250.

The heating element 250 can be a chemical heating element, such as a heating pad that heats by chemical reaction or a hot water bottle. The heating element 250 can be placed in one of a plurality of pockets 252 disposed about different regions of the coverlet 214. The heating element 250 can radiate heat from the pocket 252 to a surrounding area of the coverlet 214.

A separate heating element 250 can be placed in each of the plurality of pockets 252 to form a thermal energy transfer array, indicated generally at 254. The thermal energy transfer array 254 can include a sufficient number of pockets and heating elements to heat substantially the entire bathrobe 200.

In use, the wearer of the robe 200 can place a heating element 250 in selected pockets 252 to control the area of the robe desired to be heated. Additionally, the wearer can move the heating element to different pockets to adjust the amount of heat each area of the robe can receive. Moreover, the wearer can open the openable partition 26 to selectively cool a portion of the wearer's body, while maintaining or increasing the temperature of the remaining covered portion of the wearer's body. In this way, the bathrobe 200 of the present invention can be used to warm a wearer even when an electrical power source is not available.

The present invention also provides for a method for warming a person exiting a wet environment including, placing a robe over at least a portion of the person's body. The robe can be configured to absorb moisture. At least one heating element in the robe can be heated in order to distribute heat through at least a portion of the robe. The step of heating the at least one heating element can also include activating an electrical power supply carried by the bathrobe to deliver electricity to an electrical heating element in order to convert the electricity to heat and distribute the heat throughout the bathrobe.

It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are only illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. While the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth herein.

Claims

1. A heatable robe, comprising:

a coverlet, having at least one openable partition, and including a moisture absorbent material suitable for removing moisture from a wearer's body; and

at least one heating element, carried by the coverlet, and configured to generate heat in at least a portion of the coverlet.

2. The robe of claim 1, wherein the moisture absorbent material includes a wicking material configured to draw moisture away from the wearer's body.

3. The robe of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of heating elements distributed throughout the coverlet, each heating element being capable of radiating heat to an area of the coverlet.

4. The robe of claim 1, further including a controller operably coupled to the at least one heating element and being configured to control the temperature of the at least one heating element.

5. The robe of claim 1, wherein the coverlet includes a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of selectively heatable regions, wherein each of the plurality of heating elements selectively distributes heat to one of the plurality of heatable regions so that each heatable region is heatable to a different temperature.

6. The robe of claim 5, further including a controller coupled to the plurality of heating elements, the controller capable of selectively controlling each of the plurality of heating elements to heat each of the heatable regions to a selectable temperature.

7. The robe of claim 1, wherein the at least one openable partition is openable to expose a portion of the wearer's body without requiring removal of the robe from the wearer's body.

8. The robe of claim 1, wherein the at least one openable partition is located in the front of the coverlet and is openable to expose a front portion of the wearer's body.

9. The robe of claim 1, wherein the robe is safely operable in a wet environment.

10. The robe of claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element is an electrical heating element coupleable to an electrical power source.

11. The robe of claim 10, wherein the electrical power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, an electrical plug, and combinations thereof.

12. The robe of claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element is a chemical heating element.

13. A heated bathrobe, comprising:

a bathrobe, having a torso and a pair of sleeves, configured to be worn by a person;

an energizable source, carried by the bathrobe;

a thermal energy transfer array, distributed through at least a portion of the bathrobe and coupled to the energizable source, to receive energy therefrom and selectively distribute energy in the form of heat throughout selected portions of the bathrobe.

14. The robe of claim 13, wherein the thermal energy transfer array includes an array of electrical heating elements extending through at least a portion of the bathrobe and the energizable source is an electrical power source, the electrical heating elements being electrically coupled to the electrical power source to receive power therefrom, and being configured to convert the electrical power to heat and distribute the heat throughout the portions of the bathrobe.

15. The robe of claim 13, further comprising a moisture absorbent material to draw moisture away from the wearer's body.

16. The robe of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of heating elements distributed throughout the coverlet, each heating element capable of radiating heat to a predetermined area of the coverlet.

17. The robe of claim 16, further including a controller coupled to the plurality of heating elements and configured to selectively control the temperature of the plurality of heating elements.

18. The robe of claim 13, wherein the coverlet includes a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of selectively heatable regions, and each of the plurality of heating elements selectively distributes heat to one of the plurality of heatable regions so that each heatable region is heatable to a different temperature.

19. The robe of claim 18, further including a controller coupled to the plurality of heating elements, the controller selectively controlling each of the plurality of heating elements to heat each of the heatable regions to a selectable temperature.

20. A method of warming a person exiting a wet environment, comprising:

covering at least a portion of person's body with a robe, the robe being operable to absorb moisture from the person's body; and

activating at least one heating element carried by the robe to distribute heat through at least a portion of the robe.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein activating the at least one heating element further includes activating an electrical power supply carried by the bathrobe to deliver electricity to the electrical heating element to convert the electricity to heat and distribute the heat throughout the bathrobe.