Patent Application
20140049004
The present invention relates to a device for removing perspiration from a person's hands. More specifically, the invention relates to such a device which allows, for example, a video game player to quickly and effectively remove perspiration from his hands without being distracted or having to interrupt play.
Most video games are played using a hand-held or a console-installed game controller. During long periods of play, a video game player's hands may tend to perspire, sometimes profusely. Such perspiration can be a distraction to the video game player and can cause his hands to slip from the controls. For serious video game players in high-stakes competitions, such results can be detrimental.
Although the video game player can attempt to dry his hands by wiping them on his clothes, this is not an ideal solution. For one thing, depending on the material from which the clothes are made, wiping his hands on his clothes may not completely dry his hands. Also, wiping his hands on his clothes can dampen and discolor the clothes. In addition, the movement required to wipe his hands on his clothes can distract his attention from the game.
In accordance with the present invention, these and other limitations in the prior art are overcome by providing a hand perspiration removal device having a base which includes a top surface and a bottom surface; a perspiration absorbing pad which is removably attached to the top surface; and means for securing the base to a part of a user's body.
The perspiration absorbing pad provides a comfortable yet effective surface on which the user can wipe his hands in order to remove the perspiration. In addition, since the pad is removable, it may be washed and reused. The base may be attached to a part of the user's body which is normally located very close to the game controller, such as the user's thigh. As a result, the user is not required to move his hands to any great extent in order to reach the pad. Thus, the act of drying his hands on the pad will not appreciably distract the user from the game.
In one embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the base comprises a concave configuration which extends from a first side of the base to a second, opposite side of the base. In this manner, the bottom surface of the base is configured to conform to the part of the user's body to which the device is secured. Thus, the base will fit comfortably on the user's thigh and will therefore not pose a distraction to play.
The bottom surface of the base may also comprise a recessed middle portion which extends between the first and second sides. In addition, the middle portion may comprise a number of generally parallel channels which extend between the first and second sides. The recessed middle portion serves in effect to raise the bottom surface from the user's thigh to thereby allow air to circulate between the base and the thigh, and the channels serve to increase this flow of air. The circulation of air between the base and the thigh will help prevent the user's thigh from perspiring and thereby increase the user's comfort.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the top surface comprises a recess within which the pad is positioned. As a result, the top surface surrounds the pad to aid in retaining the pad on the base, thereby ensuring that the pad will remain attached to the base during repeated, vigorous wipings by the user.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numbers may be used to denote similar components in the various embodiments.
Referring to the Figures, the hand perspiration removal device of the present invention, which in indicated generally by reference number 10, includes a base 12, a perspiration absorbing pad 14 which is removably attached to the base, and means, generally 16, for securing the base to a convenient part of a user's body, such as the user's upper thigh. As shown best in
Referring to
As shown in
The pad 14 may be removably attached to the base 12 by any suitable means. As shown in
In the embodiment of the invention which is shown in the Figures, the means 16 for securing the base 12 to the user comprises a number of straps 40, in this case two, which are made of a suitable material, such as Nylon®. Each strap 40 is inserted through a corresponding groove 42 which extends through the base 12 between the side surfaces 24. A first end of each strap 40 is formed into a loop 44 in which a corresponding buckle 46 is secured. As shown best in
Referring specifically to
Although the base 12 has been described above as being comprised of a single piece of a relatively hard plastic material, in another embodiment of the invention the base may be constructed of two or more materials. For example, the lower half of the base 12 may be made of a soft, resilient material, such as rubber, which can more comfortably conform to the user's thigh while the upper half of the base may be made of the harder plastic material, which can bonded to the lower half using a suitable adhesive.
In use of the hand perspiration removal device 10, a video game player or other user secures the base 12 to his thigh using the traps 40. During play, as the player's hands become sweaty, the player can move one hand and then the other toward the device and wipe his fingers and palms on the perspiration absorbing pad 14. Due to the wicking nature of the top layer 30, the player's perspiration will be absorbed into the pad 14 and the outer surface of the top layer 30 will remain relatively dry, allowing for repeated use of the device 10 during play. When not in use, the pad 14 can be removed from the base 12 and washed, e.g., in a conventional clothes washing machine. In addition, the base 12 together with the straps 40 may be washed, e.g., in a household dishwashing machine. In this manner, the device 10 can be used time and again for its intended purpose.
It should be recognized that, while the present invention has been described in relation to the preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art may develop a wide variation of structural and operational details without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are to be construed to cover all equivalents falling within the true scope and spirit of the invention.
