CLOTHING ARTICLES HAVING RAISED PROJECTIONS

Abstract

A towel (10) includes a base layer (12) and a plurality of raised projections (14) that project away from the base layer (12). The base layer (12) has a first side (16) and a second side (18). In one embodiment, the projections (14) are discontinuously positioned and are each separately secured to one or both of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). In one embodiment, the projections (14) have a higher coefficient of static friction than the base layer (12) relative to a surface (20). The base layer (12) can be formed from an absorbent material and the projections (14) can be formed from a relatively non-absorbent material. In one embodiment, the projections (14) cover less than approximately 50 percent of one of the sides (16, 18) of the base layer (12). Moreover, in one embodiment, the projections (14) can be substantially hemispherical in shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a towel having features of the present invention, shown in a first configuration;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of a portion of another embodiment of the towel having features of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a projection;

FIG. 3B is a side view of the projection illustrated in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a projection;

FIG. 4B is a side view of the projection illustrated in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a projection;

FIG. 5B is a side view of the projection illustrated in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a projection;

FIG. 6B is a side view of the projection illustrated in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a towel having features of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a towel having features of the present invention, shown in a second configuration.

Claims

1-27. (canceled)

28. Clothing that inhibits movement between the clothing and a surface, the clothing comprising: a base layer having (i) a first side that is at least partially formed from a liquid-absorbing material, and (ii) a second side that is substantially opposite the first side and at least partially formed from a liquid absorbing material, the second side being at least partially exposed; anda plurality of raised projections that are each separately secured to the first side, the projections being formed from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, epoxy and silicon, the projections having a higher coefficient of static friction than the base layer so that the projections inhibit relative movement between the clothing and the surface when the projections are in contact with the surface.

29. The clothing of claim 28 wherein the projections are formed from a material that is substantially liquid impermeable.

30. The clothing of claim 28 wherein the projections have substantially the same dimensions relative to one another.

31. The clothing of claim 28 wherein the projections are positioned on at least a portion of the first side so that the projections have a density of at least one projection per square inch.

32. The clothing of claim 28 wherein at least one of the projections projects at least approximately 0.1 millimeters away from the first side of the base layer.

33. The clothing of claim 28 wherein the projections are substantially dome-shaped.

34. The clothing of claim 28 wherein the base layer is at least partially formed from a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, hemp, microfiber, rayon and silk.

35. Clothing that inhibits movement between the clothing and a surface, the clothing comprising: a base layer having (i) a first side that is at least partially formed from a liquid-permeable material, and (ii) a second side that is substantially opposite the first side and at least partially formed from a liquid-permeable material, the second side being at least partially exposed; anda plurality of similarly sized, first projections that are each separately secured to the first side, the first projections being formed at least partially from a material that is substantially liquid impermeable, the first projections having a higher coefficient of static friction relative to the surface than the base layer.

36. The clothing of claim 35 wherein at least one of the projections is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, epoxy and silicon.

37. The clothing of claim 35 wherein the projections are positioned on at least a portion of the first side so that the projections have a density of at least one projection per square inch.

38. The clothing of claim 35 wherein at least one of the projections projects at least approximately 0.1 millimeters away from the first side of the base layer.

39. The clothing of claim 35 wherein the projections cover less than approximately 90% of the first side of the base layer.

40. The clothing of claim 35 wherein the projections are substantially dome-shaped.

41. The clothing of claim 35 wherein the base layer is at least partially formed from a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, hemp, microfiber, rayon and silk.

42. Clothing that inhibits movement between the clothing and a surface, the clothing comprising: a base layer having (i) a first side that is at least partially formed from a liquid-absorbing material, and (ii) a second side that is substantially opposite the first side and at least partially formed from a liquid absorbing material, the second side being at least partially exposed; anda plurality of similarly sized, discontinuously positioned projections that are secured to and project away from the first side, the projections being formed substantially from a material that does not absorb liquids.

43. The clothing of claim 42 wherein at least one of the projections is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, epoxy and silicon.

44. The clothing of claim 42 wherein at least two adjacent projections are circular and are at least approximately one-quarter inch on center relative to one another.

45. The clothing of claim 42 wherein at least one of the projections projects at least approximately 0.1 millimeters away from the first side of the base layer.

46. The clothing of claim 42 wherein the projections cover less than approximately 90% of the first side of the base layer.

47. The clothing of claim 42 wherein the projections are substantially dome-shaped.

48. The clothing of claim 42 wherein the base layer is at least partially formed from a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, hemp, microfiber, rayon and silk.