NON-SLIP TOWEL

Abstract

An exercise accessory, for example a towel for Yoga, includes a fabric layer having a length, a width, a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The exercise accessory may also include a center line disposed along a length of the second side substantially in a middle of the width of the fabric layer; and a transverse line on the second side substantially bisecting the center line. The first side includes at least one strip made of a high-friction material deposited thereon which is configured to grip a surface during an exercise. The high-friction material may also be disposed on the second side of the accessory.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a non-slip towel for exercise, particularly while performing Yoga, Pilates, weightlifting, stretch and other mat-based exercises.

Yoga and Pilates are exercises that involve balancing and stretching movements. In the past, while performing these exercises, the exerciser typically stood barefoot on a thin, rubberized mat. The mat served to prevent the exerciser from slipping while performing the exercises.

Certain types of Yoga, such as hot Yoga, are performed in hot and humid conditions which cause a significant amount of perspiration to drip from the body. Other exercise activities also result in significant perspiration. Such perspiring onto conventional exercise mats causes the mat surface to become slippery, as these conventional mats do not readily absorb perspiration. Wet exercise mats cause discomfort for the user, and increase the chances of injury resulting from slipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front side of a towel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the towel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the towel of FIG. 1 in a partially folded state and positioned on a Yoga mat.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative front side of the towel of FIG. 1.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a towel 10 including a front side 20, a back side 30 opposite the front side 20, a length 11, and a width 12. The illustrated towel 10 may be referred to as a long towel and the length 11 can be approximately equal to a height of an exerciser. An exemplary length 11 is six feet. However, the towel 10 may have other lengths as appropriate for various sizes of exercisers or other applications. The towel 10 may have substantially any suitable width 12, thickness, weave, knap length, or color. The towel 10 can be made from a variety of materials including cotton, acrylic, and various synthetic blends. The towel 10 may include a strap (not shown) to facilitate transport, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/028,328, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the front side 20 of the towel 10 includes a center line 21 drawn on the surface thereof and extending along the length 11 of the towel 10. The center line 21 is substantially centered along the width 12. The center line 21 helps the exerciser attain proper body alignment during certain exercises. The front side 20 of the illustrated towel 10 also includes a transverse line 22 substantially bisecting the center line 21 substantially at a midpoint 23 of the length 11 of the towel 10. Thus, the center line 21 and transverse line 22 form a cross or t-shape. The intersection of the center line 21 and the transverse line 22 is substantially a midpoint 23 of the towel 10 in both the length 11 and width 12 directions. The number of center lines 21 and transverse lines 22 is not limited to one each. Other configurations of center lines 21 and transverse lines 22 are possible, including two or more center lines 21 parallel to each other, or transverse lines 22 placed at one or both of the ends of the center line 21. Alternative embodiments of the towel 10 may omit one or more of the lines 21, 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the back side 30 of the towel 10 includes at least one area of high-friction material 35 deposited thereon. The back side 30 of the towel 10 with the high-friction material 35 is placed on and faces a surface 1 on which an exercise is to be performed, such as a floor 1 shown in FIGS. 1-2 or Yoga mat 3 shown in FIG. 3. The high-friction material 35 of the towel 10 keeps the towel flat and substantially uniform on the floor 1 by reducing or eliminating slippage, rippling, or bunching of the towel 10 as the user exercises thereon.

The back side 30 of the towel 10 includes a first area 36 of high-friction material 35 positioned substantially adjacent to each end of the towel 10 and a second area 37 of high-friction material 35 positioned substantially in the middle of the towel 10. Of course, the high-friction material areas are not limited to the ends or middle of the back side 30. For example, in alternative embodiments, high-friction material 35 could be disposed along an entire perimeter of the back side 30 of the towel. Two or more high-friction material 35 areas, for example, near the ends or the middle of the back side 30, could be disposed extending along the length, width, or other directions. These high-friction material 35 areas could extend parallel to each other, or form, by way of example and without limitation, I, H, X, t, or other shapes. As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, numerous other arrangements of high-friction material 35 areas are possible in accordance with the present invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first and second areas 36, 37 of high-friction material 35 have a generally rectangular shape with wavy edges 38. However, other shapes for the areas 36, 37 are possible. The areas 36, 37 could have straight or rounded edges. The areas could also have square, circle, or oval shapes. The edges could be formed of solid lines, dashed lines, zig-zag lines, or other patterns.

As shown in FIG. 4, the front side 20 of the towel 10 may also include high-friction material 35 areas. During certain exercises which produce a large amount of perspiration, such as hot Yoga, an exerciser's hands or feet may slip while placed on the front side 20 of the towel 10. Thus, high-friction material 35 areas on the front side 20 of the towel 10 provide a location for the exerciser to place her hands or feet to prevent slippage. The high-friction material 35 areas on the front side 20 of the towel 10 are preferably placed at least near one or both of the ends of the length 11 of the towel. However, additional areas of high-friction material 35 could also be disposed in middle portions of the front side 20. The high-friction material 35 areas on the front side 20 of the towel 10 are not limited in number, size, shape, or spacing.

The non-slip, high-friction material 35 can be any rubbery substance made from any material such as rubber, plastic, PVC, silica gel, or any other substance that creates a high-friction, non-slip finish. For example, the high-friction material 35 can include PVC vinyl material which, may be made from the same material used in forming Yoga sticky mats, which material is referred to as a “closed cell PVC vinyl material—100% latex free.” This material is also referred to as a vinyl sponge foam material. Other high-friction rubbery materials may be used in place of the PVC vinyl material. The high-friction material 35 preferably forms a smooth finish without projections.

To perform a floor exercise with the towel 10, the exerciser first places the towel 10 on a surface such as a floor 1 or Yoga mat 3, and then positions the towel 10 on the surface with the back side 30 facing the surface. The exerciser then positions her body on the front side 20 of the towel 10, and may use the center line 21 and transverse line 22 to aid in proper alignment of her body. The exercise is then performed while the areas 36, 37 on the back side 30 of the towel reduce or eliminate slippage or bunching of the towel 10 on the surface. During this time, the exerciser may also place her hands and/or feet on high-friction material 35 areas on the front side 20 of the towel 10 to prevent slippage of the hands and/or feet with respect to the towel 10.

While embodiments of the invention disclosed herein describe long towels having a high-friction material on one side thereof, one skilled in art should recognize that alternative configurations may be employed without deviating from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An exercise accessory, comprising:

a fabric layer having a length, a width, a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

a center line disposed along a length of the second side substantially in a middle of the width of the fabric layer; and

a transverse line on the second side substantially bisecting the center line,

wherein the first side includes at least one strip made of a high-friction material deposited thereon and configured to grip a surface during an exercise.

2. The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the fabric layer includes a towel.

3. The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the fabric layer is made of a sweat absorbing material.

4. The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the first side includes the strip of the high friction material near at least one end along the length of the fabric layer.

5. The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the first side includes the strip of the high friction material substantially in a middle of the length of the fabric layer.

6. The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the second side includes an additional line substantially parallel to the center line.

7. The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the high-friction material includes rubber, plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or silica.

8. The exercise accessory of claim 1, wherein the exercise accessory is approximately six feet in length.

9. An exercise accessory, comprising:

a fabric layer having a length, a width, a first side and a second side opposite the first side,

wherein the first and second sides each include at least one strip made of high-friction material deposited thereon and configured to grip a surface during an exercise.

10. The exercise accessory of claim 9, wherein the second side includes the strip of the high friction material near at least one end of the length of the fabric layer.

11. The exercise accessory of claim 9, further comprising a center line disposed along a length of the second side substantially.

12. The exercise accessory of claim 11, further comprising a transverse line on the second side substantially bisecting the center line.

13. The exercise accessory of claim 9, wherein the first side includes the strip of the high friction material substantially in a middle of the length of the fabric layer.

14. The exercise accessory of claim 9, wherein the second side includes an additional line substantially parallel to the center line.

15. The exercise accessory of claim 9, wherein the high-friction material includes rubber, plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or silica.

16. The exercise accessory of claim 9, wherein the exercise accessory is approximately six feet in length.