DISPOSABLE BODY TOWEL AND PACKAGING
Various embodiments are described herein relating to a device and method for a disposable body towel and its accompanying waterproof container. In alternate embodiments, the towel may comprise a textured section, a lotion section, perforated coupons, a pocket, a graphic section and a cut-away section. The towel may comprise inward and outward-facing adhesive sections that may be configured to removably attach to one-another, preventing a towel from falling off when wrapped around a user. The towel may be fabricated of a plurality of plies of cellulose and/or polymer/and/or viscose fabric having different properties of wet-strength, absorbency, softness and biodegradability. In a preferred embodiment the towel is fabricated of biodegradable materials. In a preferred embodiment the towel is packaged in an easily-opened, lightweight, recyclable waterproof container. In alternate embodiments, the towel may be shaped for use as a disposable robe or a disposable pillow case.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/692,072, filed on Aug. 22, 2012. The content of this application is being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to the field of disposable biodegradable towels.
1. Introduction
Disposable paper towels are well known in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,707 discloses a disposable beach towel having two layers, including a top layer of absorbent material and a bottom layer of water impermeable material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,509 discloses a disposable bath towel and dispensing device. The reference discloses a series of absorbent tear off elongated sheets of paper imprinted to have opposite ends with simulated borders and having felted absorbent fibers extending from the printed surface along the length of the respective sheets with multicolored zones resembling quality textile cloth toweling.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,918 discloses a disposable paper bath towel with integral apertures and tie. The reference discloses that the sheet possesses sufficient structural strength when wet to resist degradation.
2. Summary
Various embodiments are described herein relating to a device and method for a disposable body towel and its accompanying waterproof container. In alternate embodiments, the towel may comprise a textured section, a lotion section, perforated coupons, a pocket, a graphic section and a cut-away section. The towel may comprise inward and outward-facing adhesive sections that may be configured to removably attach to one-another, preventing a towel from falling off when wrapped around a user. The towel may be fabricated of a plurality of plies of cellulose and/or polymer/and/or viscose fabric having different properties of wet-strength, absorbency, softness and biodegradability. In a preferred embodiment the towel is fabricated of biodegradable materials, In a preferred embodiment the towel is packaged in an easily-opened, lightweight, recyclable waterproof container. In alternate embodiments, the towel may be shaped for use as a disposable robe or a disposable pillow case.
For a better understanding of the various embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how these various embodiments may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings which show at least one example embodiment and in which:
Referring now to
In some embodiments the towel 12 may be fabricated of material known to those of ordinary skill in the art as having a high wet strength, softness and absorbency. In some embodiments, the towel 12 may be fabricated of re-purposed or recycled paper products and/or of industrial strength paper towel. Embodiments of the towel 12 may also be biodegradable, may be fabricated with unbleached cellulose and may include a polymer weave. In some embodiments, the towel 12 may be fabricated of viscose fabric and may be biodegradable. In some embodiments the towel 12 may be fabricated of viscose fabric having a weight of 95 Grams per Square Meters (GSM) and may be biodegradable. In other embodiments, viscose fabric of different weight may alternatively be used.
In use, a user can rub the surfaces of the towel 12 on wet skin, such that the towel's absorbent material dries the user's skin.
In a preferred embodiment the towel 12 may have a length 14 of approximately 45″, a width 16 of approximately 25″ and a thickness of ⅛″. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that these dimensions may vary. For example, in some embodiments the length 14 may range from 30″ to 60″, the width may range from 15″ to 40″ and the total thickness of all plies may range from 1/32″ to ¼″.
Referring now to
The textured section 18 comprises an area of the towel that may be compressed mechanically such that a depressed texture is created on at least one surface of the towel 12b. Depressed textures may be applied on both surfaces. The depressed texture may be configured to resemble commonly known cloth body towel embroidery. Alternatively, paper, polymer or viscose fabric particles may be joined to the towel by adhesive such that a felted surface texture is created providing additional softness and absorbency.
The textured area 18 may be limited to one end of the towel 12b as shown in
The lotion section 20 may be a section of the towel 12b that is impregnated with a lotion. During use, the lotion may partly transfer to a user's body. The lotion may be a moisturizer or other lotions beneficial to skin or for enhancing a feeling of softness of the towel 12b. In a preferred embodiment, the lotion section 20 may comprise sunscreen, such that during use the sunscreen may be transferred to the user's body to enhance protection from the sun. In a preferred embodiment the quantity of lotion applied to the towel can be such that the towel continues to be operable to absorb additional water despite the impregnation by lotion. Though the embodiment in
The plurality of perforated coupon lines 22 may separate a plurality of coupon sections between the coupon lines. In exemplary embodiments the coupon sections may comprise barcodes or graphics. In use these coupon sections may be torn from the towel by a user and redeemed at a business to purchase or reduce the cost of beverages or other items. In use, in the hopes of receiving increased sales, an owner of the business could ask a seller of the disposable towel to include coupon sections with the towel that are redeemable for a discount on products sold by the owner of the business. In exchange, the owner of the business may subsidize the cost of the towel. Optionally, the coupon sections may only be redeemable at businesses in a specific tourist or visitor amusement area, such as a water park, amusement park or boardwalk. Optionally, the coupon may only be redeemable at businesses within a predetermined area, for example within a 5 kilometer radius of where the towel is sold. The coupon lines 22 may be located anywhere on the surfaces of the towel 12b. In other embodiments, the coupons may form part of the towel surface, and may be configured to be stamped or to have a hole punched through the towel within the border of the coupon to indicate that the coupon has been redeemed, such that the part of the towel comprising the coupon can continue to be used as a towel even after the coupon has been redeemed. Optionally, instead of being part of the towel, separate coupons can be provided with a towel in a shared package, such as the packaging described below in relation to
Alternatively, the coupons may form part of the packaging itself and may further optionally be formed as a detachable part of the packaging. Optionally, the towel 12b may comprise coupon line 21, a perforation oriented transversely to coupon lines 22, allowing for easier tearing of the coupon sections.
The pocket section 24 may comprise a section of towel material (see above) joined to the towel 12b at all but one side by stitching, resin or other techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The side that is not joined to towel 12b may be left open, creating a pocket. In use, valuables or other items may be placed in the pocket section 24 by a user. In alternate embodiments there may be more than one pocket section 24 on the towel 12b. Additional pocket sections 24 could be located on opposite sides of the towel 12b. The pocket section(s) 24 may be located anywhere on the surfaces of the towel 12b.
The graphic section 26 may comprise a printed graphic, joined to the towel 12b and comprising a logo for a business, an advertisement or a map. Alternatively, the graphic section 26 may comprise a depression of the towel, wherein at least one surface of the towel is depressed by some means to provide a depressed texture forming a logo, advertisement or map. In alternate embodiments there may be more than one graphic section 26 on the towel. The graphic section 26 may be located anywhere on the surfaces of the towel 12b. The map may, for example, be a map of a water park or amusement park at which the towel is sold.
The cutaway section 28 may be joined to the rest of the towel 12b by a perforation of the towel 12b. In alternate embodiments, the cutaway section 28 may have a cross-sectional area that may be folded into the shape of a visor or hat. In use, a user may grasp the cutaway section 28, tear it from the towel and then fold the cutaway section 28 to provide a useful item such as a visor.
Referring now to
The inward-facing adhesive section 34 may be configured to detachably adhere to outward-facing adhesive section 38. Referring now to
Inward-facing adhesive section 34 may be permanently attached to towel 12c or may be removably attached. In various embodiments inward-facing adhesive section 34 may be removably attached at different positions along length 14. This may allow the towel to be used by users of different sizes. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that though inward-facing adhesive section 34 is shown having a circular area, it is not so limited. It may, for example have a rectangular area, and may only be as wide as the outward-facing adhesive section 38.
In various embodiments outward-facing adhesive section 38 may comprise a towel section having a felted surface with exposed paper, polymer or viscose fabric particles. Inward-facing adhesive section 34 may comprise a plurality of hook-shaped protrusions, optionally made from polymer. Upon contact between inward and outward sections 34 and 38, these hook-shaped protrusions may be configured to removably attach to the exposed fibers of the outward-facing section. In some embodiments, inward-facing and/or outward-facing adhesive sections 34 and 38 may be fabricated of Velcro™.
In alternate embodiments, the inner and/or outward-adhesive sections 34 or 38 may be fabricated of resin or glue. The resin or glue may be waterproof and may be chosen to avoid skin irritation should contact occur. Where either adhesive section 34 or 38 is fabricated of resin or glue, either section may adhere to towel material on contact. Accordingly, in such 30 embodiments the towel may not necessarily comprise two opposing adhesive sections (34, 38), as only one adhesive section (34 or 38) may be necessary to allow the towel to resist falling off when wrapped around a user according to the use described above. Optionally, both sections may still be included.
Outward-facing adhesive section 38 may extend along the entire length 14 of the towel or may only partly extend along length 14. In embodiments where inner or outward adhesive sections comprise glue or resin, as shown in
In alternate embodiments a detachable adhesive strip may be packaged with the towel. In one exemplary embodiment, the detachable adhesive strip could be included in pocket section 24 during sale (see
Referring now to
Referring now to
In one embodiment, top section 52 and bottom section 56 may each measure 8″ by 8″, while the flap section 60 may have a width along fold line 58 of approximately 8″, but a length away from fold line 58 of less than 8″.
Packaging a disposable towel 12 (or 12b or 12c) as described in the embodiments above may comprise the following steps. Referring now to
In use, a user may tear or cut the material along separation line 62 and then pull open the container. The user may then remove the towel from the opened package, unfold the towel and use it for drying purposes or, referring to
In various embodiments, the seals along lines 66, 66′ and 62 may be created using compression sealing, heat sealing, adhesive or other techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art to seal thin plastic layers. The seals may be impermeable to water, such that when the seals along lines 66, 66′ and 62 are created, the container becomes waterproof. Removable join 64 may be joined to flap section 60 and top section 52 using the same techniques that can be used for creating the seals.
In a preferred embodiment, graphics may be printed on the outside or inside surface of the container.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
While the applicant's teachings described herein are in conjunction with various embodiments for illustrative purposes, it is not intended that the applicant's teachings be limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the applicant's teachings described and illustrated herein encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, without departing from the embodiments, the general scope of which is defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A disposable towel comprising:
- a sheet of biodegradable material for manually removing moisture from a user body without causing discomfort;
- wherein the sheet comprises a map graphic section and a coupon section;
- wherein the map graphic section comprises an imprinted graphic representation of a geographic area on at least one face of the sheet;
- wherein the coupon section comprises a plurality of detachable coupons separated by a plurality of parallel perforations extending inwardly from an edge of the sheet; and
- wherein each detachable coupon is manually detachable from the coupon section without compromising the integrity of the towel.
2. The disposable towel of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable material is viscose fabric.
3. The disposable towel of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable material is viscose fabric having a weight of 95 grams per square meter.
4. The disposable towel of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable material is paper.
5. The disposable towel of claim 1, wherein an additional coupon perforation extends transversely across the plurality of parallel perforations.
6. A method for providing a disposable towel, the method comprising:
- providing at a point of sale location a sheet of biodegradable material for manually removing moisture from a user body without causing discomfort, the sheet comprising: a map graphic section imprinted on at least one face of the sheet and having a graphic representation of a point of sale area, the point of sale area comprising an area within 5 km of the point of sale location; and a coupon section comprising a plurality of manually detachable coupons separated by a plurality of parallel perforations extending inwardly from an edge of the sheet and redeemable to reduce a cost of an item at a business within the point of sale area.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the biodegradable material is viscose fabric.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the biodegradable material is viscose fabric having a weight of 95 grams per square meter.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the biodegradable material is paper.
10. A disposable product comprising:
- a disposable sheet of biodegradable material.
11. The disposable product of claim 10, wherein the disposable sheet is rectangular for use as a body towel.
12. The disposable product of claim 10, wherein the disposable sheet is shaped for use as a pillowcase.
13. The disposable product of claim 10, wherein the disposable sheet is shaped for use as a robe.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 22, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 27, 2014
Inventor: TRACEY MASTROMARCO (OAKVILLE)
Application Number: 13/973,019
International Classification: A47K 10/02 (20060101); A47G 9/02 (20060101);