Reversible tube towel
An ergonomically designed cylindrically configured wiping towel with two open ends, constructed with multiple, pre-selected exterior areas of varied colors and patterns for user awareness of soiled portions in order to discourage possible cross contamination. The cylindrically structured tube towel is designed to provide the same amount of cleaning surface as a flat conventional towel in a more compact maneuverable, controlled manner. The cylindrically configured wiping towel turns inside out in order to utilize all towel surfaces.
My Seam and Tuft Towel, application Ser. No. 10/441,484, filing date May 20, 2003
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAMNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to wiping towels relevant to household cleaning or any profession that uses rags or towels for cleanup and especially within the professional cleaning industry. Specifically to an improved wiping towel exhibiting superior control and maneuverability in use as well as unique design features that promote efficient usage of the entire towel surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWiping towels are commonly used by professional cleaning companies as well as car washes, janitorial services, window washers etc. and in ordinary household cleaning. The conventional, flat cleaning and wiping towels are generally rectangular or square sheets of absorbent fabric or other material. Most prior art consistently reflects this pattern, sometimes adding chemical treatments and abrasive materials to same. U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,498 to Martin (1997) discloses a scrubbing device providing a first layer of foam material, a second layer of woven synthetic adhered to one another. U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,812 to Watanabe (2004) discloses a multi layer sheet structure comprising a front sheet, a net-like backing sheet and sewing threads for partially joining the front sheet with the backing sheet so as to form bag portions which may be stuffed with paddings such as cotton, wool etc. U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,204 to Wise (1999) discloses sheets capable of developing a positive electrostatic charge use for a variety of surface cleaning operations. Insofar as I am aware, no wiping towel formerly developed, other than my own patent pending “Seam and Tuft Towel” application Ser. No. 10/441,484, filing date May 20, 2003, provides ergonomically designed construction features providing increased efficiency and ease of use, in a “basic towel” configuration. The most similar article which applicant is aware is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,372 to Wenzel (1990) which discloses a tubular towel with an elastic band for encircling and gripping a user's arm with an enlarged lower end portion that drapes loosely over the user's hand. My Tube Towel is also of a cylindrical construction, but there, the similarity ends. Wenzels's free-hand tubular towel is worn on the forearm of the user and is retracted onto the arm when not in use. The principal object to provide a towel carried on the forearm and extending over the hand, making it immediately available for use as a wiping towel. As seen below, my Reversible Tube Towel is much more austere in design relying on the dynamics of its construction, thereby resulting in exceptional efficiency and handling properties of a wiping towel.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGESAccordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the Reversible Tube Towel described in my above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
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- (a) to provide a wiping towel that handles well;
- (b) to provide a wiping towel that easily turns inside out to allow all surface portions to be utilized;
- (c) to provide a wiping towel that automatically provides a double thickness without folding for exceptional absorbency;
- (d) to provide a double thickness for stability in a towel that ergonomically responds to a user's hand;
- (e) to provide a wiping towel that can optionally encompass a users hand or other tools;
- (f) to provide a wiping towel that can be produced in multiple colors or surface patterns for user awareness of soiled areas of the towel in order to discourage possible cross contamination;
- (g) to provide a wiping towel that can be produced in multiple materials for multiple uses having, perhaps, a scrubbing side and a wiping side within the same unit created by adjoining the two panels longitudinally;
Further objects and advantages are to provide a wiping-cleaning towel that presents the same amount of cleaning surface area commonly found in a conventional rectangular wiping cloth in a towel that occupies half the measurable dimensions of surface area due to its unique construction, the Reversible Tube Towel functions in a more compact, maneuverable, controlled manner than other products presently on the market.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the present invention a Reversible Tube Towel comprises a cylindrical shaped body forming a tube configuration that easily turns inside out or can be fully or partially reverse-folded over itself to utilize all surface portions while keeping track of soiled portions. It may encompass a users hand or be used flat. The doubled thickness provides superior absorbency and structure providing extra control thereby reducing hand fatigue. The structural dynamics of my Reversible Tube Towel result in a more manageable wiping towel.
Drawings—FIGURESIn the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different suffixes.
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- 10 base material
- 12 longitudinal edges
- 14 end edges
- 16 seam
- 18 opening
- 20 dyed portion
- 22 patterned portion
- 24 embroidered portion
A preferred embodiment of the Reversible Tube Towel of the present invention is illustrated in
My Reversible Tube Towel may be constructed in any desired material common to wiping or cleaning, such as paper, plastic, wool, cotton, abrasive scrubbing mesh or any other synthetic or natural fiber, the end product being (cotton-terry), static dust cloths, micro fiber, PVA, fleece, flannel, disposable paper product, chamois, etc. The open ends may be either hemmed or left unfinished.
The dimensions of my finished Reversible Tube Towel are established with the width of the towel being measured to be less than the length. A standard Reversible Tube Towel specification being approximately 7 to 9 inches in width and approximately 12 to 20 inches in length. A smaller, more compact version of my Reversible Tube Towel may be approximately 5 inches in width by approximately 9 inches in length. A larger, automotive wiping size could measure approximately 9 to 10 inches in width and approximately 24 inches in length. And yet other variances in size and dimension would be formed for specific job tasks, or tool covering applications. For example, a 7 by 28 inch works nicely in the kitchen folded over an apron tie. A 7 by 15 inch Reversible Tube Towel makes a great dish-drying towel, chef's apron towel, spa towel or polishing towel. A small stretch towel is ideal for cosmetic applications and exfoliating. The preferred Reversible Tube Towel would accept a user's hand and (or) forearm into the cylinder. A narrower Reversible Tube Towel will securely stay on a user's hand by simply spreading the fingers within the confines of the tube. The entire Reversible Tube Towel turns inside out to provide a fresh clean surface.
Optional Construction Features
When a pre-existing material is used in the base of the tube's construction, one or more seams 16 may be used for the purpose of adjoining the longitudinal sides. For one piece of material, one seam 16 as seen in
For definition of soiled areas, portions of my Reversible Tube Towel may be dyed or my Reversible Tube Towel may be constructed using multiple colored or patterned panels. This feature provides instant user-awareness of soiled areas of the towel in order to discourage possible cross contamination.
Operation-
The open-ended construction feature allows for a tool or a hand to be inserted in either end of my Reversible Tube Towel with the option to switch ends when one is soiled. And the tube may then be turned inside out to expose a fresh surface and to be reused.
Advantages
From the description above, a number of advantages of my Reversible Tube Towel become evident:
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- (a) The cylindrical structure of my Reversible Tube Towel provides inside access to the user's hand for control and maneuverability as well as easy access for turning the towel inside out.
- (b) Better control helps diminish hand fatigue.
- (c) Both inside and outside of my Reversible Tube Towel is utilized for efficient usage of all surfaces. When the outside is soiled, the towel is simply turned inside out for fresh unsoiled area.
- (d) My Reversible Tube Towel may be used partially turned inside out for doubling the thickness while controlled from within.
- (e) My Reversible Tube Towel may be laid flat and used in the manner of any other conventional towel folded over for extra thickness.
- (f) My Reversible Tube Towel can be color or pattern delineated to help the user identify soiled areas in order to discourage possible cross-contamination.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the design lends itself to unlimited adaptations in size, materials and surface treatments.
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
Claims
1. In a wiping and cleaning towel of the type comprising: an elongated cylindrical body having two open ends.
2. The wiping and cleaning towel of claim 1 wherein said wiping and cleaning towel is reversible as a means for utilizing all surface areas.
3. The wiping and cleaning towel of claim 1 wherein said wiping and cleaning towel is composed of multiple color or patterned contrasting areas as a means to define user awareness of soiled areas thereby discouraging possible cross contaminating.
4. The wiping and cleaning towel of claim 3 wherein said contrasting areas are dyed. The wiping and cleaning towel of claim 3 wherein said contrasting areas are composed of separate panels of base materials in various materials, colors or patterns.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 30, 2004
Publication Date: Nov 3, 2005
Inventor: Rebecca McKenzie (Glenwood Springs, CO)
Application Number: 10/836,168