Easy Handling and Wear Baby Towel

Abstract

The present invention is a rectangular shaped towel which caregivers can wear by placing their arms through the arm openings located on the front side of the rectangle, providing a “hands-free” experience for one adult to independently lift a baby, child, or other individual needing assistance out of the bath with two arms; bring the child to their chest and immediately into the towel; and wrap and dry them in one uninterrupted motion. The present invention turns into a wearable article for children with fasteners located on both ends, and a hood which covers the top and back of the child's head. The present invention keeps both the caregiver and child dry, keeps the child warm and fully covered, effectively aides in thee caregiver's independent and safe transfer of the child out of the bath tub using both arms, provides easy access for after-bath activities like diapering, and turns into a wearable article. The present invention may also be used after any water activity such as swimming.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to the earlier filed provisional application having Ser. No. 62/845,242 filed May 8, 2019, and hereby incorporates subject matter of the provisional application in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a wearable article in the form of a hooded, wearable, “hands-free” towel for children, babies, and other individuals needing assistance, which is useful to both the caregiver and child after bathing, or after other water activities such as swimming.

Background

For caregivers bathing a child and other individuals needing assistance, bathing and after-bath activities can be a challenge. The caregiver usually gets soaked while picking up the slippery, wet child while; at the same time, needs to open the towel, hold the towel, cover and wrap the child in the towel, and safely remove the child from the bath tub or bathing location while keeping the child warm and dry. It is particularly difficult to maintain a sturdy grip on a wet child and transfer the child out of the bath tub, particularly when also needing to keep the child safe and warm, keep the caregiver and child dry, and hold a towel. This is nearly impossible to accomplish with standard towels or baby towels, especially with one caregiver.

Oftentimes two caregivers bathe one child together so that one caregiver can pick up the child while the other caregiver holds and opens the towel while positioning the towel for the second caregiver. The second caregiver then picks up the child from the bath tub and the first caregiver wraps the child in the towel. It is too difficult for one caregiver to do these steps to pick up and dry off a child after bath effectively and safely at the same time while also staying dry. Caregivers may resort to unsafe or undesirable practices in order to dry the child after bath, including getting soaked, handling a slippery and wet baby while also attempting to manage a towel, walking with a slippery baby to another location such as a diaper changing table, placing the towel onto the floor to lay the clean child on, holding the towel in their mouth while also using their arms to pick up the child from the bath tub and into the towel, pick up the child backward and back them into the towel draped across their chest, or other maneuvers that do not allow the caregiver to focus on getting the child out of the bath safely and quickly while keeping both parties dry.

Children need to be wrapped securely in a towel immediately after bathing to give the caregiver an easy and safe handle on the child while removing them from the bath tub, retain the child's body heat since children have a harder time regulating their body temperature, dry the child, and keep the caregiver dry. It is easier to dry and wrap a child in one article after bath without the need of a second article like a robe, wrap, blanket, or other covering. A need exists for a towel which assists in effortless, easy, and safe handling of the child by the caregiver after bath, while allowing the caregiver to use both arms to pick up the child, refraining from attaching to the caregiver's body in order to provide quick release of the towel in the event the child needs help, providing the quick ability to keep the child warm and dry, keep the caregiver dry, work in an uninterrupted motion, allow the caregiver to work independently, and double as a wearable article for after bath activities like changing, diapering, and nursing.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

It is known that adult caregivers use towels to wrap and dry children after a bath, including the use of popular hooded towels. However, these products lack in safely aiding the caregiver in picking up the wet child from the bath independently, keeping the caregiver dry, and serving as wearable articles after bath such as a robe, wrap, blanket, or other covering. While products exist to help the caregiver remove the child from the bath with the product itself, or in a way that allows them to use their hands while doing so, these products typically require the caregiver to be constrained by attaching the towel around their neck or body, they lack the ability for quick release in the event the child needs help, they are cumbersome to use during a time when safety and efficiency are paramount, they take time to set up during an activity where every second counts, and they lack the correct design to be utilized by the child as an instant functional, wearable article after bath.

The following is a list of U.S. patents that may be relevant to the patentability of the herein claimed invention:

U.S. Pat. No. 8,276,212 B2 to Quintanilla discloses an apron towel wrap for children which is cumbersome to use, requires the caregiver be restrained with the towel fastened around their neck and waist, and requires many steps to fully enclose the child in a wearable form of the towel, all of which is a difficult with an impatient, squirmy, wet, cold child when the caregiver is focused on safety.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,829 B1 to Turkheimer discloses a rectangular portion of a child's towel, along with a separate strap and separate hat. The rectangle lacks arm holes. Using all pieces together entails an inconvenient process in preparing for and towel drying the child.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,986,163 B2 to Dugan discloses a slit on one end through which the other end of the towel is threaded. The design may provide difficult to unthread and release and transfer the towel onto the child once the caregiver is holding the child. The child cannot wear the towel in the bath. It is challenging for the child to wear this towel as a wearable article, and it lacks a hood.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,410 to Bassler discloses a hood located in the middle of one of the towel's edges. This design does not aide in the caregiver removing the child from the bath, nor can the child wear the towel in the bath tub. The towel does not transform into a functional, wearable article.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,368,589 to Read discloses a swaddling towel which restricts mobility by requiring the caregiver to fasten the towel around their neck. The towel extends long toward the floor which may inhibit the caregiver while standing or kneeling next to the bath tub. The towel does not allow the child to freely move their legs in the wearable embodiment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows the caregiver to place two arms through the towel arm holes and use the towel “hands-free” and independently pick up the child with two arms as they normally would, easily remove the child from the bath tub in an uninterrupted motion, bring the child to their chest and into the towel, quickly wrap the other end of the towel around the child immediately at the bathing location while holding child with one arm, place hood on child's head, dry the child, fasten close the towel around the child to form a wearable towel, provide for safe handling of the child, and keep all parties dry and the child warm. The present invention easily transforms and transfers from a towel used by the adult caregiver in picking up the child from the bath and drying the child to a wearable towel for the child. Together, these steps are easily accomplished in seconds.

The present invention allows the caregiver to easily place the product onto the child by inserting the child's arms through towel arm holes while the child is in the bath, and to assist in the child's easy transfer out of the bathing location in an uninterrupted motion.

The present invention allows the caregiver to use the towel in a “hand-free” manner in order to independently pick up the child with two arms and dry the child with the towel, all without the need of a second caregiver.

The present invention may enclose the child in the towel, turning into a wearable towel, by placing the child's arms through the arm holes, wearing the hood, and fastening close the towel to keep the child dry and warm during after bath activities like diapering, nursing, and reading.

The present invention allows the caregiver easy access for diaper changing, sponge bathing, and clothing the child.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is made from a double loop terry cloth containing organic cotton and bamboo, and an element which allows the fabric stretch to accommodate the different sizes of adult arm widths through the arm hole openings, while simultaneously accommodating children's arm widths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, the drawings show aspects of the invention, but it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exact arrangements shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view of the towel opened as a rectangle with arm openings, a hood, and fasteners;

FIG. 2 is a view of the towel closed into a square shape;

FIG. 3 illustrates the caregiver with their arms through the towel's arm openings in a “hands-free” manner while draping the back end over their arm;

FIG. 4 illustrates the caregiver wearing the towel through the arm openings while picking up a child from the bath with two arms;

FIG. 5 illustrates a child wearing the front end of the towel while in the bath;

FIG. 6 illustrates the caregiver lifting the child from the bath into the towel while holding the child with two hands;

FIG. 7 illustrates the caregiver holding the child with one hand, while using their other hand to reach for the hood;

FIG. 8 illustrates the caregiver holding the child with one arm while using the other arm to place the hood on the child and drape the back end of the towel around child's back;

FIG. 9 illustrates the caregiver holding the child with one arm while fastening close the towel;

FIG. 10 illustrates the child laying or standing in the wearable towel; and

FIG. 11 illustrates the child in the wearable towel with the caregiver pulling up the front end for access during after-bath activities.

In the drawings, the following items are designated as specified:

• Towel 10
• Arm openings 20
• Fasteners 30
• Back end of towel 40
• Hood 50
• Front end of towel 60
• Top edge 70

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The main embodiment of the towel 10 in FIG. 1 (opened view) and FIG. 2 (closed view) is preferred to be used after the bath or other water activities as a “hands-free” towel for the caregiver, and as a wearable towel 10 for the child or other individual needing assistance. The term “towel” 10 generally referenced is not limited in a usual sense such as an absorbent article used for drying or wearing, but may also include its use as a blanket, wrap, or other wearable article. The present invention in FIG. 1 is shaped in a rectangle with two arm hole openings 20 on the front end 60 of the rectangle's half, with a hood 50 on the back end 40 of the rectangle's half and fasteners 30 on both ends of the rectangle. The present invention 10 may be made in multiple sizes to accommodate caregivers, infants, toddlers, children, or other individuals needing assistance. The present invention 10 has at least one fastener 30 which is affixed along the top edge 70 of the towel on both ends 40 60, and placement along the top edge 70 may vary. The present invention's 10 hood 50 is intended to cover the top and back of the child's head. The present invention 10 may have designs, patterns, embroidery, features, and decorative items added to it or its hood 50, such as animal ears as seen in the drawings. The present invention 10 is cut from fabric into a rectangle shape as seen in FIG. 1, with edges sewn and has arm hole openings 20 cut with edges sewn, a hood 50 cut from fabric and sewn and then affixed onto the top edge 70 of the towel's back end 40, and fasteners 30 affixed onto each opposite end of the rectangle 40 60.

The present invention 10 has multiple uses. In a first step (see FIG. 3), the caregiver simply places their arms through the towel's 10 arm hole openings 20, placing the towel 10 toward his or her body, while draping the back end 40 of towel over their arm, rendering the towel 10 as “hands-free” while finishing bath time with a child.

In a second step (see FIG. 4), the caregiver wears the towel 10 through the arm openings 20 with the back end 40 draped over their arm while picking up the child from the bath with two hands. In an alternative second step (see FIG. 5), the caregiver first places the child's arms through the arm openings 20 and places the towel 10 onto child while the child is in the bath, draping the back end 40 over the edge of the bath tub or held over or under their arm. The child wears the towel 10 covering his or her front body.

In a third step (see FIG. 6), the caregiver has their arms through the arm openings 20 and easily lifts the wet child from the bath with two hands as they normally would and safely brings the child against their chest immediately facing into the towel 10. While alternating holding the child with one arm, the caregiver slides out their arms one at a time from the arm openings 20 and may either leave child's arms inside of the towel 10 or place child's arms through arm openings 20. If using the alternative step two, the child's arms will already be through the arm holes 20.

Then the caregiver (see FIG. 7) holds the child with one arm while using their other hand to reach for the hood 50 in a forth step.

In a fifth step (see FIG. 8), the caregiver holds the child with one arm while using the other arm to place the hood 50 onto the child's head and wrap the back end 40 of the towel 10 around child to fully enclose child into the towel 10 and to dry the child and keep him or her warm.

Next, the caregiver may take an optional step (see FIG. 9) while holding the child with one arm to close the towel 10 with the fasteners 30, turning it into a wearable towel 10.

Infants to older children may use and wear the towel 10 by laying or standing in it (see FIG. 10) as a wearable towel 10 fastened closed 30, wearing the hood 50, and extending their arms through the arm hole openings 20. The towel 10 can be worn for after bath activities like nursing, reading, or other hygiene tasks.

The towel 10 may also be used without wearing the hood 50 and without fastening 30 the two ends together.

The towel provides easy access (see FIG. 11) to the caregiver by pulling up the front end 60 for use of the towel 10 in quick drying of child's body, changing of clothes or diaper, application of lotions, and other after-bath activities.

It is important to note that while all of these steps are illustrated separately, together they are easily accomplished in seconds. Once the towel 10 is placed onto the caregiver's arms (see FIG. 3) or child's arms (see FIG. 5) through the arm hole openings 20, all steps are completed in an uninterrupted motion. This fosters a smoother bath experience, enabling the caregiver to act quickly, confidently, and independently, using both arms to pick up a wet child while providing a more safe and secure way to warm and dry the child after bath.

Claims

1. A wearable article comprising:

a towel;

said towel in a rectangular shape made from fabric which may have an element of stretch;

said towel having arm hole openings on one side of rectangle's half when folding into two squares (front end) which may accommodate arm widths of both adult caregiver and child while providing the ability to wear the towel “hands-free”;

said towel may have a hood sewn onto the top of one side of the rectangle's half when folding into two squares (back end), being the opposite side of said arm hole openings, to cover child's top and back of head;

said towel having at least one fastener located on opposing ends of rectangle which bring both ends of rectangle together; and

said towel turning into a wearable towel.