Elongate Body Drying Towel

Abstract

The invention constitutes a towel for the drying of the human body. The towel includes an elongate strip of moisture-absorbent cloth having reinforced edges and further having a ratio of a length-to-width of between about 8:1 and about 12:1, the strip of cloth having a first end and a second end, each end having a void space sufficient in area to facilitate engagement of the ends by respective hands of a user. The towel is between about 40 and about 72 inches in length.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Area of Invention

The invention pertains to towels, drying towels and the like particularly for use during or after bathing or showering.

(b) Prior Art

There have been a few changes in the shape or geometry of towels or the like employed, typically, for drying of the body following a shower, bath, partial bath or the like.

More particularly, the art has made no effort to address the problems of particularly obese individuals and those with arthritis or the like, who have difficulty bending at the area of the waist and persons who are recovering from a surgical procedure such that bending of the torso during the recovery period is to be kept at minimum. Consequently, such individuals, using a towel of a typical width and length are unable to reach the lower extremities of their body or, often, their backs and other areas of the body as well. As a result, obese, arthritic, or individuals recovering from a variety of surgeries cannot fully dry themselves following a showing or bath without the assistance of another individual or nurse which, understandably, can be the cause of embarrassment, provided such an assisting individual is even available at all. Further, the absence in the art of a towel particularly adapted to the needs of such individuals increases the chances of a bathroom-related accident if one attempts to reach particular areas of the body, if they can be reached at all, including pain and disorientation to the individual involved even in the absence of an accident.

The present invention, in a number of different embodiments, addresses the long-felt need in the art for a body drying towel particularly adapted and configured to the needs of individuals of the categories set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention constitutes a towel for the drying of the human body. The towel comprises an elongate strip of moisture-absorbent cloth having reinforced edges and further having a ratio of a length-to-width of between about 8:1 and about 12:1, said strip of cloth having a first end and a second end, each end having proximally thereto an opening sufficient in area to facilitate gripping of said ends by respective hands of a user. Typically, the width of each of said openings defines a range of about 50 to about 70 percent of a width of said strip of cloth, with a length of about 40 to about 72 inches.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drying towel or the like particularly adapted in geometry to the needs of people having difficulty reaching lower extremities of their body and portions of their back with a towel of typical length and width.

It is another object to provide a drying means of the above type having sufficient length to reach extremities and other difficult to reach areas of the body without need for bending of the back of the user thereof.

It is a still further object to provide a drying towel of the above type which includes means for the gripping of the ends thereof by the respective hands of a user without requirement to form a complete fist.

The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and Claims appended herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the inventive shower and bath towel, of which the bottom is a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side longitudinal view of the towel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG. 1 in which each end is identical to the other.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a second embodiment of a shower and bath towel, of which the bottom is a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 5 is a side longitudinal view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view of FIG. 4, in which each end is identical to the other.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a third embodiment of my inventive towel, said embodiment including a cushioning strip at outer edges of the gripping space thereof, in which the bottom thereof is a mirror image of the top view.

FIG. 8 is a side longitudinal view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an end view of FIG. 7, in which each end is identical to the other.

FIG. 10 is a top view of a fourth embodiment of my elongate shower towel having gripping regions each of enhanced area, of which the bottom view is a mirror image thereof.

FIG. 11 is a side longitudinal view of the towel of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an end view of FIG. 10, in which each end is identical to the other.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there are shown front, side and end views of the first embodiment 100 of the present inventive towel. The towel includes an elongate strip of cloth 102 which must be of a moisture-absorbent nature, for example Terry cloth. Of necessity the strip 102 must be reinforced at its peripheral edges as in indicated by stitching 104. Such strip of cloth 102 also includes a first end 106 and a second end 108.

The geometry of said strip of cloth 102 is particularly characterized by a ratio of length-to-width of between about 8:1 and about 12:1 as well as a pair of void space or hand grip spaces 110 and 112 which are proximal to respective first and second ends 106 and 108. The functionality of the inventive towel requires a means of reinforcement about each of the hand gripping areas such as by the use of stitching 114. Stitching may, if desired, extend continuously outwardly in the direction of respective ends 106 and 108 and, if desired, may take the form of embroidery or the like to provide a greater degree of reinforcement within areas 116 and 118 of the towel. It is noted that the width of each of said areas 110 and 112 define a range of about 50 to about 70 percent of the width of the strip of cloth 102. In embodiment 100, shown in FIGS. 1-2, the width of each hand grip space 110/112 will exceed that of the lengthwise or longitudinal dimension of said space. The overall length of towel 100 may range from about 40 to about 72 inches. Clearly, the taller and/or larger the individual using the present towel, the greater will be the length necessary for such an individual to comfortably reach all parts of the body without a degree of bending at the back or waist of the body.

In FIGS. 4-6 are shown a further embodiment of the invention, similarly to that of FIGS. 1-4 in all respects other than the geometry of the respective ends 206 and 208 which, in embodiment 200, are squared or rectangular as opposed ends 106/108 of embodiment 100 which are curved. As in embodiment 100, embodiment 200 includes stitching 214 above each hand gripping space 210/212 which stitching may, if desired, extend upwardly or downwardly to respective ends 206/208 to provide a greater degree of reinforcement in areas 216/218 of the towel 200. With respect to choice of materials, both sides of the towel may consist of the same moisture-absorbent material such as Terry cloth; however one side may be provided with a different degree of roughness than the other side and, further, one side of the towel may be provided with a sufficient degree of roughness or surface thereof to act as a loofah which may be used by individuals to remove excess skin or to treat cellulite.

In FIGS. 7-9 is shown a further embodiment 300 of the invention in which a deformably resilient elongated element in the nature of a firm foam-like polymer or other sponge-like material is embedded or sewn within the fabric 302 along outer edge 322 of each handgrip space 310/312 of the towel 300. It is noted that a similar elongate element 324, if desired, may also provided along the bottom surface of the towel, also along an outer edge 322 of each handgrip space 310/312. A typical diameter of the deformable resilient element 320 or 324 may be in a range of 0.5 to 1.0 inches, the purpose of which is to address the difficulty which many older and arthritic individuals have in closing their hands to a fist about an article having a diameter lesser that 0.5 inches and also to provide additional comfort and control to any individual using the towel 300 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7-9. Such elements at edges 322 also act to reduce the need for additional stitching or reinforcement in areas 316/318 of towel 300.

At FIGS. 10-12 is embodiment 400 of the instant invention which in all respects is similar to that of embodiment 100 with the exception that the ratio of the width to the length dimension of hand gripping spaces 410/412 is smaller than the embodiment of FIG. 1. In other words, the spaces 410/412 are closer to that of a square than is the case in embodiments 100, 200 and 300. It has been found that this geometry of towel 400 is more easily engaged by people with larger hands or poorer coordination.

In FIG. 13 is shown a further embodiment 500 of the inventive towel which is generally similar to embodiment 100 with the exception that outermost surfaces 522 of gripping spaces 510/512 are curved or arcuate in geometry to facilitate ease of gripping of the spaces 510/512, given that most of the tension upon the towel 500 is in the outer directions toward respective ends 506 and 508 of the towel as it is pulled back-and-forth against areas of the body to be dried. As in the other embodiments, appropriate reinforcement about the periphery of cloth 502 and all edges of spaces 510/512 exists and, optionally, within areas 516/518.

While there has been shown and described above the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith.

Claims

1. A towel for drying of the human body, the towel comprising:

an elongate strip of a moisture-absorbent cloth having reinforcing edges and further having a ratio of length-to-width of between about 8:1 and about 12:1, said strip having a first end and a second end, each end having proximally thereto hand engagement void spaces.

2. The towel as recited in claim 1, in which a width of each of said void spaces define a range of about 50 to about 70 percent of a width of said strip of cloth.

3. The towel as recited in claim 2, in which a length of said void spaces each define a dimension about equal to said width thereof.

4. The towel as recited in claim 2, in which areas of said cloth at and about said void spaces include reinforcements provided about edges of each space.

5. The towel as recited in claim 2, in which a width dimension of each space exceeds a length dimension thereof.

6. The towel as recited in claim 2, in which a length of said strip defines a range of about 40 to about 72 inches.

7. The towel as recited in claim 4, in which said reinforcements comprise stitching patterns.

8. The towel as recited in claim 2, in which one side of said strip comprises a material having a greater degree of roughness on one side than the other side of said strip.

9. The towel as recited in claim 6, in which said reinforcements comprise stitching patterns.

10. The towel as recited in claim 5, in which areas of said cloth at and about said void spaces include reinforcements provided about edges of each space.

11. The towel as recited in claim 6, in which outer edges of each of said void spaces define a curved or arcuate geometry.

12. The towel as recited in claim 6, in which outermost edges of each of said spaces include an elongate deformably resilient element secured into said strip at outermost edges of each void space.

13. The towel as recited in claim 12, in which deformably resilient elements are provided upon both the upper and lower surfaces of the towel along said outermost edges of each void space thereof.

14. The towel as recited in claim 12, in which said material of each deformable resilient element defines a diameter of between 0.5 and 1.0 inches.

15. The towel as recited in claim 2, in which there is provided a stitching pattern between each end of said strip of material and each outermost edge of each of said void spaces.