BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Field of Technology
This invention relates generally to towels, and in particular to towels having multiple extensions protruding from a center portion. The multiple extensions being selected from the group consisting of one or more extension panels and/or one or more towel tubes for drying extensions of an object, e.g., a person's or animal's leg.
Related Art
Conventional towels are generally rectangular in shape and a continual piece of an absorbent fabric that are not optimal for drying an object having protruding extensions. For example, when drying a dog's legs, the towel is limited by its contiguous rectangular shape. When placed over a dog for drying, the towel is pulled away from other parts of the dog in order to get enough surface area of the towel to wrap around and dry a leg. This leaves other parts of the dog exposed and/or results in the same part(s) of the towel being used in the drying process. As another example, often times the dog steps on the towel while being dried, thereby preventing the towel from reaching and drying remote parts of the dog. Accordingly, there is a need for a towel that has one or more extensions for drying parts of an object while the remainder of the towel stays in place to cover and/or dry other parts of the same object.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawings in which the reference number first appears.
FIG. 1 is a top view of a towel of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the towel of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the towel of the present invention in use;
FIG. 4 is a top view of a towel of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the towel of the present invention in use;
FIG. 6 is a top view of a towel of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a top view of a towel of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is atop view of a towel of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a top view of a towel of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a top view of a towel of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a side view of the towel of the present invention in use;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a towel of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the towel of the present invention in use;
FIG. 14 is a side view of a pocket of the towel of the present invention in use;
FIG. 15 is a side view of an alternate pocket of the towel of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a side view of the towel with pockets of the present invention in use; and
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the towel with pockets of the present invention in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a top view of a towel 100 of the present invention. The towel 100 is made of an absorbent cloth and generally rectangular in shape when flattened, but this is for convenience. The towel 100 could be any polygon, including being generally square in shape, or even a circular or oval shape. The representative towel 100 has a first side 102a and an opposing second side 102b, a third side 104a and an opposing fourth side 104b. The towel 100 can be of any size as needed for the target object to be dried, including 2′×3′, 3′×6′, or any desired dimension. The towel 100 is divided into two extensions 120a, 120b. As shown in FIG. 1, a first extension 120a has a first extension panel 112a and a second extension panel 112b, and a second extension 120b has a third extension panel 112c and a fourth extension panel 112d, all of which extend from a center portion 106 of the towel. The center portion 106 is located at the center of the towel 100 and has a general width (with an axis parallel to the third side 104a and fourth side 104b) and a general length (with an axis parallel to the first side 102a and second side 102b) defining a region centrally located in the towel 100.
In this representative towel 100, the first and fourth extension panels 112a, 112d are created by a first slit 108a cut from the first side 102a toward the center portion 106 and ending at a first center point 118a, creating a first inner edge 114a and a second inner edge 114b, and the second and third extension panels 112b, 112c are created by a second slit 108b cut from the second side 102b toward the center portion 106 and ending at a second center point 118b, creating a third inner edge 114c and a fourth inner edge 114d. Each slit, 108a and 108b, are located generally in the center of the first side 102a and second side 102b respectively, but this is for convenience. A slit 108a, 108b can be offset within the first side 102a or second side 102b to create extension panels 112a-d of non-uniform size.
The distance between the first center point 118a and the second center point 118b (i.e., the width of the center portion 106) is sufficient enough to not tear when the towel 100 is in use. In example embodiments, the distance between the first center point 118a and the second center point 118b is at least about 5-15% of the total width of the towel 100 (i.e., the length of the third side 104a or fourth side 104b), at least about 1-3 inches, or any distance in which the length of the first slit 108a or second slit 108b is greater than the width of the center portion 106 (the distance of the center portion 106 between the first center point 118a and the second center point 118b). In a representative embodiment the distance between the first center point 118a and the second center point 118b is generally equal to the distance extending from the top of a dog's left front leg, across the dog's back, to the top of the dog's second front leg.
Optionally, the distal end of each inner edge 114a-d may have a means for securing two extension panels. For example, first distal end 116a may have a first means for securing 110a while second distal end 116b has the corresponding second means for securing 110b, such that the first means for securing 110a and the second means for securing 110b are removably connectable. The first means for securing 110a and second means for securing 110b are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners (i.e., Velcro®), hook and eye fasteners, button and buttonhole, snaps, hooks, and the like. In operation, the first extension panel 112a can be secured to the fourth extension panel 112d by connecting the first means for securing 110a on the first distal end 116a with the second means for securing 110b on the second distal end 116b. Similarly, the second extension panel 112b can be secured to the third extension panel 112c by connecting the first means for securing 110c on the third distal end 116c with the second means for securing 110d on the fourth distal end 116d. With the extension panels 112a, 112c secured together and extension panels 112b, 112d secured together, the towel 100 has the flexibility to function as a conventional towel when desired as well as function with the extension panels 112a, 112c being used independently when the extension panels 112a, 112c are not secured together, and likewise extension panels 112b, 112d can be used independently when extension panels 112b, 112d are not secured together.
Alternatively, the means for securing can extend along a portion of or the entire length of an inner edges 114a-d. Thus, the first slit 108a and the second slit 108b can each be open or closed as desired, e.g., along the entire length, or one or more sections, of the slits 108(a), 108(b).
FIG. 2 is a top view of the towel 200 of the present invention with first side 102a having a distal end 122c and distal end 122d, and second side 102b having distal end 122a and 122b. The first extension 120a has a first extension panel 112a (with distal end 122a and second distal end 116b) and a second extension panel 112b (with distal end 122b and fourth distal end 116d), and the second extension 120b has a third extension panel 112c (with distal end 122c and third distal end 116c) and a fourth extension panel 112d (with distal end 122d and first distal end 116a), all of which extend from a center portion 106 of the towel. The first extension panel 112a and the fourth extension panel 112d are created by a first slit 108a cut from the third side 104a toward the center portion 106 and ending at a first center point 118a, creating a first inner edge 114a and a second inner edge 114b. The second extension panel 112b and the third extension panel 112c are created by a second slit 108b cut from the fourth side 104b toward the center portion 106 and ending at a second center point 118b, creating a third inner edge 114c and a fourth inner edge 114d.
In this embodiment, the distance between the first center point 118a and the second center point 118b is at least about 5-15% of the length of the towel 200 (i.e., the length of first side 102a or second side 102b), at least about 1-3 inches, or any distance in which the length of the first slit 108a or second slit 108b is greater than the length of the center portion 106 which is the distance of the center portion 106 between the first center point 118a and the second center point 118b. In a representative embodiment of FIG. 2 when the towel 200 is placed over a dog, the first center point 118a and the second center point 118b are aligned approximately at the bottom of the dog's torso or underside. Alternatively, when the towel 200 is placed over a dog, the first center point 118a and the second center point 118b are aligned approximately half way between the back of the dog and the bottom of the dog's torso or underside.
In another embodiment of FIG. 2, the overall dimensions of the towel 200 is about 64″ (length of first side 102a and second side 102b) by 36″ (length of third side 104a and fourth side 104b). The width of the center portion 106 (i.e., the distance between first center point 118a and the second centerpoint 118b) is about 20″ with each slit, 108a and 108b, being about 22″ in length. Each slit 108a, 108b is generally centered along the third side 104a and fourth side 104b respectively. Further, each extension panel 112a-d is of such a length that when the towel 200 is placed on a dog (with the first slit 108a on one side of the dog and the second slit 108b on the opposite side of the dog), each extension panel 112a-d approximately reaches the ground, either touching the ground or just above the ground.
An alternative embodiment of the present towel 200 can optionally have an extension panel 112 with a different shape at the distal end of an extension panel 112a-d. As shown in the figures, the distal end of the extension panels 112a-d is square in shape, but this is for convenience. It would be readily apparent to have a towel 200 with the distal end of the extension panel 112a-d having an alternative shape, e.g., curved, pointed, triangular, and the like.
An alternative embodiment of the present towel 200 can optionally have a second type of material at the distal end of an extension panel 112a-d. This second material may be of a type suitable for cleaning a dog's paw, e.g., having a textured surface, having a larger thickness, increased absorbency, and the like. Further, the entire distal end of an extension panel 112a-d may be of a second material, or a second material or pad may be secured to one side of the distal end of an extension panel 112a-d. For convenience, the second material may be positioned about 2″-6″ above the outer edge of the distal end of the extension panel 112a-d.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the towel 200 in use. The towel 200 is shown drying a dog 300 but this is for convenience. The towel 200 can be used to dry any object having extensions or parts that require independent movement of extension panels 112a-d to reach certain parts of the object. As shown, the towel 200 is draped over the dog generally along a center axis 302 of the towel 200 such that the third side 104a is on one side of the dog 300 and the fourth side 104b is on the opposing side of the dog 300. The first side 102a of the towel 200 extends over the back end of the dog 300 while the second side 102b of the towel 200 drapes over the neck and/or head of the dog 300 depending on the length of the towel 200.
In operation, the towel 200 is draped over an item, e.g., a dog 300, in the manner described with FIG. 3. With the means for securing 110a-d not connected, first and second extension panels 112a, 112b are used independently to dry the front legs of the dog 300 while the third and fourth extension panel 112c, 112d are used independently to dry the back two legs of the dog 300. When drying the dog 300, the four extension panels 112a-d are used independent of each other while the center portion 106 of the towel 200 remains generally on the top of the dog 300 and not pulled off during use.
FIG. 4 is a top view of a towel 400 of the present invention having a first, second, third, and fourth extension panels 112a-d similar to FIGS. 1-3 except that the extension panels 112a-d are formed from the corners 402a-d of the towel 400. Towel 400 has multiple extensions 120a-b, such that first extension 120a is comprised of extension panel 112a and parts of extension panels 112b, 112d, and second extension 120b is comprised of extension panel 112c, and opposing parts of extension panels 112b, 112d. Each extension panel 112a-dbeing separated from an adjacent extension panel 112a-d by a first, second, third, and fourth slit 108a-d. In particular, a first slit 108a separates the first extension panel 112a from the fourth extension panel 112d; a second slit 108b separates the first extension panel 112a from the second extension panel 112b; a third slit 108c separates the second extension panel 112b from the third extension panel 112c; and a fourth slit 108d separates the third extension panel 112c from the fourth extension panel 112d. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth slits 108a-d are formed from a separate corner 402a-d of the towel 400 toward the center portion 106 ending at a first, second, third and fourth center point 118a-d. Optionally, each extension panel 112a-d is secured to an adjacent extension panel 112a-d by connecting the first means for securing 110a on a first distal end 116a, 116c, 116e, 116g with a second means for securing 110b on a second distal end 116b, 116d, 116f, 116h respectively.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the towel 400 of the present invention in use. The towel 400 is shown drying a dog 300, but this is for convenience. The towel 400 can be used to dry any object having extensions or parts that require independent movement of four extension panels 112a-d to reach certain parts of the object. As shown, the towel 400 is draped over the dog generally along a center axis 404 of the towel 400 such that the first side 102a is on one side of the dog 300 and the second side 102b is on the opposing side of the dog 300. The third side 104a of the towel 400 extends over the back end of the dog 300 while the fourth side 104b of the towel 400 drapes over the neck and/or head of the dog 300 depending on the length of the towel 400. In an embodiment, the second extension panel 112b and the fourth extension panel 112d are sufficiently long to reach the paws of a dog. Further, the first extension panel 112a and third extension panel 112c are sufficiently long to cover a portion or all of a dog's tail and neck or head respectively.
In operation, the towel 400 is draped over an item, e.g., a dog 300, in the manner described with FIG. 4. With the means for securing 110a-h not connected, first extension panel 112a is used to dry the tail of the dog 300; the second extension panel 112b is used to dry a pair of side legs of the dog 300; the third extension panel 112c is used to dry the neck or head of the dog 300; and the fourth extension panel 112d is used to dry the opposing pair of side legs of the dog 300. When drying the dog 300, the four extension panels 112a-d are used independent of each other while the center portion 106 of the towel 400 remains generally on the top of the dog 300 and not pulled off during use.
FIG. 6 is a top view of a towel 600 of the present invention having multiple extensions 120a-b, such that first extension 120a is comprised of extension panels 112b, 112c, and second extension 120b is comprised of extension panels 112a, 112d. Each extension panel 112a-d extends from the center portion 106, with adjacent extension panels being separated by a gap 602a formed from the shape of the towel 600. The shape of the towel 600 is generally a plus-sign shape, with each extension panel 112a-d having the same approximate length from the center portion 106 and four gaps 602a-d formed from the shape of the towel 600.
FIG. 7 is a top view of a towel 700 of the present invention that is similar to the towel 600 of FIG. 6 with two opposing extension panels (first extension panel 112a and third extension panel 112c) being shorter in length than the other two opposing extension panels (second extension panel 112b and fourth extension panel 112d).
FIG. 8 is a top view of a towel 800 of the present invention that is similar to the towel 600 of FIG. 6, but with the towel 800 having a general H-shape, and the four extension panels 112a-d having the same approximate length from the center portion 106.
FIG. 9 is a top view of a towel 900 of the present invention that is similar to the towel 800 of FIG. 8 and having a general H-shape, but also having a fifth extension panel 112e.
FIG. 10 is a top view of a towel 1000 of the present invention that is similar to the towel 900 of FIG. 9 and having a general H-shape, but also having a fifth extension panel 112e and a sixth extension panel 112f.
FIG. 11 is a view of the towel 1000 of the present invention in use with an object, e.g., a dog 300.
In FIGS. 6-10, the extension panels 112 may have any length. Further, each extension panel 112 of a given towel 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, may have the same length, two or more different lengths, the same width, or two or more different widths. It would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to design a towel 100, 200, 400, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 of the present invention of a sufficient size and shape to dry a dog or any animal or object requiring extension panels.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a towel 1200 of the present invention. The towel 1200 is a towel panel 1201 made of an absorbent cloth and generally rectangular in shape, but this is for convenience. The towel 1200 could be any polygon, including being generally square in shape. The representative towel 1200 has a first side 102a and an opposing second side 102b, a third side 104a and an opposing fourth side 104b. The towel 1200 has multiple extensions and as shown, the extensions are four extension tubes 1202a-d. A towel 1200 may have any number of extension tubes 1202a-d.
For convenience one extension tube, first extension tube 1202a, is described, but generally each extension tube 1202a-d has the same structure for convenience. First extension tube 1202a being an elongated tube 1208 having a first open end 1206 disposed within the towel 1200 and a second end 1204. The elongated tube 1208 can be formed of the same absorbent cloth of the towel panel 1201, but this is for convenience. The elongated tube 1208 can be formed of a different absorbent material than the towel panel 1201. The elongated tube 1208 may be any length, but has a preferred length of at least 3 inches. The second end 1204 of the elongated tube 1208 is either open or closed. Further, if the second end 1204 of the elongated tube 1208 is closed, the internal surface may have a tube pad 1210 of the size and shape to fit within the second end 1204. For example, the tube pad 1210 may be generally a disk shape and made of a cushion, foam, rubber, or absorbent material. Alternatively, the second end 1204 may incorporate a design element to facilitate locating the closed end 1204 or drying an animal's pay. The design element may be selected from the group consisting of: a pad, an image, a color, a textured surface, and a material different from the towel 1200. The length and width of an elongated tube 1202a is preferably of a size so that a dog's leg can be disposed within the elongated tube 1208. In one embodiment the elongated tube 1208 is about 8 inches in diameter and 8 inches in length. Further, the elongated tube 1208 can have a uniform diameter from the open end 1206 to the second end 1204. However, in alternative embodiments, the elongate tube 1208 may have a tapered diameter such that the diameter of the open end 1206 is larger than the diameter of the second end 1204.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the towel 1200 of the present invention in use. The towel 1200 is shown drying a dog 300, but this is for convenience. The towel 1200 can be used to dry any object having extensions or parts that require independent movement of four extension extensions, i.e., extension tubes 1202a-d reach certain parts of the object. As shown, the dog is positioned in the towel 1200 such that each leg of the dog 300 is disposed within an extension tube 1202a-d and the towel panel 1201 is positioned under the dog 300. When drying the dog 300, each leg of the dog 300 is dried by the extension tube 1202a-d in which the leg is disposed, and the remainder of the dog 300 is dried by the towel panel 1201. This allows the legs of the dog 300 to be dried independent of the remainder of the dog 300 such that the towel 1200 is not pulled off during use. If the second end 1204 of an extension tube 1202a-d is open, then the paw of the dog's 300 leg disposed in the extension tube 1202a-bmay protrude thru the extension tube 1202a-d. Alternatively, if the second end 1204 of an extension tube 1202a-d is closed, then the paw of the dog's 300 leg disposed in the extension tube 1202a-b will not protrude thru the extension tube 1202a-d and can be dried by the material of the second end 1204 or by the pad 1210 disposed within the second end 1204.
An alternative embodiment of the present towel 200 can optionally have a pocket at the distal end of an extension panel 112a-d. FIG. 14 is a side view of representative pocket 1402 formed from a pocket panel 1404 at the end of first extension panel 112a. The pocket panel 1404 can be a separate piece of fabric sewn or otherwise secured on three sides to the end of first extension panel 112a, leaving an opening at the top of the pocket panel 1404 to form pocket 1402. Alternatively, the pocket panel 1404 is the distal end of the first extension panel 112a folded up toward the center portion 106 and sewn or secured on two sides to form pocket 1402. The pocket 1402 is formed so that it opens to the interior of the towel 200 in use (the side that lays against the dog). As shown in FIG. 14, a dog's paw can fit within the pocket 1402 when the towel 200 is in use, to provide a means for containing the paw and facilitate the drying or cleaning process.
FIG. 15 is a side view of an alternate pocket 1502 of the towel of the present invention. In this embodiment, the pocket 1502 is formed at the distal end of the first extension panel 112a by joining distal end 122a and second distal end 116b, securing the edges along seam 1508 by sewing or other means. The pocket 1502 is created by fabric from a first portion 1504 and second portion 1506 of the first extension panel 112a. It would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to design a towel 100,200, 400, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000 of the present invention having a pocket 1502 of the appropriate size for accommodating a dog's paw.
A towel 100, 200, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000 of the present invention can be made with a pocket 1402, 1502 on one or more extension panels 112a-f. Further, a pocket 1402, 1502 can be made of the same fabric as the towel 100, 200, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000, or optionally, can be made of a second fabric or material suitable for cleaning a dog's paw. The entire pocket 1402, 1502 can be made of a second fabric or material, or the interior of a pocket 1402, 1502 can be a second fabric or have an insert of a different material or pad.
FIG. 16 is a side view of a towel 1600 with multiple pockets 1502 of the present invention in use on a dog. The extension panels 112a-d of the towel 1600 are of such a length that when the towel 1600 is placed over the dog, the dog's paw easily fits within a pocket 1602 without pulling the center portion 106 of the towel 1600. The towel 1600 also has a loop 1602 on the external side of the towel 1600 (the side not against the dog) near the center portion 106, however this is for convenience and the loop 1602 can be located anywhere on the towel 1600. The loop 1602 can be made of fabric or other material and is of a sufficient size for hanging the towel 1600 to dry on a hook. The loop 1602 also provides a visual clue to the user for orienting the towel 1600 on a dog quickly. Other visual clues for orienting the towel during use may include using different colors or patterns or indicators on different parts of the towel, such as using a first color on the edge (or portion of the edge) of the first side 102 or second side 102b and/or a second color on the edge (or portion of the edge) of the third side 102c or fourth side 102d.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the towel 1600 with pockets 1502 of the present invention in use on a dog, with the dog's paws in the pockets 1502.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by the way of example only, and not limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not limit by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.
Patent Application
20220079392
