Patent Application
20240237873
The present disclosure generally relates to a washcloth, and more particularly to a washcloth sleeve that can be stored on the forearm of a person and slid or pulled over the hand/palm for washing/cleaning and back again for storage.
Reusable and disposable washcloths, cleaning cloths, and the like conventionally consist of a sheet of natural and/or man-made fabric that is held or grasped by a user's hand for cleaning, disinfecting, bathing, washing, showering, waxing, and the like and will be collectively referred to as washcloths in this document. However, conventional washcloths are difficult to use as they are grasped while performing their function. This is not only difficult for healthy people but can be extremely difficult for people with disabilities, such as stroke, arthritis, cerebral palsy and similar conditions with limited grip strength and/or movement, as well as children who generally attempt to bunch up the washcloth in a ball while washing their bodies. Washcloths are also difficult to use by care providers such as Certified Nurse Assistants and others who bathe patients whether in a medical facility or in the patient's home. Additionally, conventional washcloths must be stored or placed somewhere while in use, which can be unsanitary particularly in communal/shared showers as well as can lead to contamination in health care environments, car detailing, and other activities that require the washcloth not to be contaminated.
Thus, there is a need for an improved washcloth that is sanitary, portable, easily manipulated, grip-free, and useful for people in general and particularly those with impaired hands.
According to the present disclosure, there is provided a washcloth sleeve, as set forth in the appended claims.
According to an aspect, there is provided a washcloth in the form of a washcloth sleeve that is carried on a forearm, wrist, or a person. The washcloth sleeve can be slid over the hand or palm while in use, then stored back on the forearm or wrist to free both hands. The washcloth sleeve includes a cylindrical tube body defining a longitudinal axis, a first opening at a first longitudinal end and a second opening at a second longitudinal end. The first opening and/or the second opening are stretchable radially outwards by at least 10 percent of its initial diameter.
The washcloth sleeve provides various benefits in multiple industries including but not limited to health care, personal care, and cleaning. For example, the washcloth sleeve frees the hands of the user or caregiver, shortening the length of the bath and increasing the safety of the patient. Additionally, the washcloth sleeve enables the independence of the physically impaired to wash themselves because the washcloth sleeve is simply pulled over the user's hand while washing and does not require the user to grasp or otherwise hold the sleeve in their hand as with conventional cloths. The provision of openings at the longitudinal ends enables the user to slide the sleeve up on the forearm or wrist in a stored position to free the hands to move objects and not disrupt workflow, enabling more work in less time (e.g., for cleaning or car detailing). By providing a stretchable fabric around the openings, the user can pull the washcloth sleeve over their arm, as well as switch between arms, and the openings will conform back to the original size (inner diameter) so that the washcloth sleeve does not slide off. Thus, the washcloth sleeve is more secure and sanitary as compared to traditional washcloths.
Implementations of the disclosure may include combinations of the above-described features. The foregoing and other potential aspects, features, details, utilities, and/or advantages of examples/embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent from reading the following description, and from reviewing the accompanying drawings.
While the claims are not limited to a specific illustration, an appreciation of various aspects may be gained through a discussion of various examples. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and certain features may be exaggerated or hidden to better illustrate and explain an innovative aspect of an example. Further, the exemplary illustrations described herein are not exhaustive or otherwise limiting, and are not restricted to the precise form and configuration shown in the drawings or disclosed in the following detailed description. Exemplary illustrations are described in detail by referring to the drawings as follows:
In the drawings, where like numerals and characters indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, exemplary illustrates are shown in detail. The various features of the exemplary approaches illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures, as it will be understood that alternative illustrations that may not be explicitly illustrated or described may be able to be produced. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative approaches for typical applications. However, various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of the present disclosure may be desired for particular applications or implementations.
With reference to the drawings,
The tube body 102 has a stretchable first opening 104 at a first longitudinal end 106 (e.g., a first cuff) and a stretchable second opening 108 at a second longitudinal end 110 (e.g., a second cuff), the second longitudinal end 110 disposed opposite to the first longitudinal end 106 relative to the longitudinal axis. The first opening 104 may be configured to fit a forearm of a person (proximal to the elbow or mid-forearm) and/or the circumference/girth of the fist of a person whichever is larger, and the second opening may be configured to fit a wrist of a person (proximal to the hand) and be able to stretch over the person's fist. The first opening 104 and the second opening 108 may have the same inner diameter. Alternatively, the second opening 108 may define an inner diameter that is smaller than the first opening 104.
The tube body 102 has an inner diameter or width equal to or greater than that of the first longitudinal end 106 and of the second longitudinal end 110. For example, an inner diameter of the cylindrical tube body is 10 to 200 percent larger than that of the first opening and the second opening, more specifically 30 to 175 percent according to an aspect and, and even more specifically 40 to 100 percent according to another aspect. Additionally, the tube body 102 has an inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of the first opening 104 and of the second opening 108. Accordingly, the tube body 102 may define an inner storage space between the first and second openings 104, 108 that may accommodate washing and/or cleaning items such as soap bars, shampoo and conditioner bottles, brushes, and the like. Additionally, the greater radial extent or width of the tube body 102 compared to the openings 104, 108 allows the tube body 102 to be easily maneuvered and positioned over the user's hand while the respective opening 104, 108 engages about the user's wrist and/or base of the palm to secure the washcloth sleeve 100 to the user while washing or cleaning.
The tube body 102 merges into the first opening 104 via a first transition 112 and merges into the second opening 108 via a second transition 114. The first and second transitions 112, 114 may be convex, as shown in
The tube body 102 may be composed of a base material including cotton, polyester, nylon, bamboo or a combination of these or other natural and man-made materials thereof. Additionally, the tube body 102 includes Terry Loops (Terry Cloth) and/or microcloth woven or otherwise integrated into the tube body 102. For example, the base material may comprise cotton and polyester with cotton Terry Loops. It will be appreciated that the base material and the material of the Terry Loops can be changed dependent on the desired application. The base material may extend up to the first and second longitudinal ends 106, 110 and form a first and second cuff for the first and second openings 104, 108, respectively longitudinal end 110 may each have an elastic band or other stretchable fabric 116 delimiting the. The first longitudinal end 106 and the second first opening 104 and the second opening 108, respectively. The elastic band or stretchable fabric 116 may be sewn onto or otherwise incorporated into the respective longitudinal end 106, 110. For example, the base material of the tube body 102 may be folded around the elastic band or stretchable fabric of the first longitudinal end 106 and the second longitudinal end 110, thereby defining the respective cuff comprising first opening 104 and the second opening 108.
As shown in
Referring back to
Referring to
When the user desires to use the sleeve for washing, to do work, or for some other purpose, sleeve 100 is pulled from the forearm over the hand as shown in
Referring to
The tube body 102 is prevented from bunching to help children and others bathe more thoroughly or do work or other functions without disruptions and more efficiently. Additionally, the user can store items (e.g., soap bar, shampoo bottle) inside the sleeve 100 in the palm of their hand or in an inner or outer storage space.
Multiple scrunchies can be stored on each forearm to improve the safety and efficiency of the user and/or patient as the user can quickly discard a sleeve and slip a replacement down off the forearm. This is particularly of value to a care provider giving a partial bath to a patient, where the care provider, by regulations, must use a clean washcloth for different parts of the body. The use of sleeve 100 increases the patient's safety by avoiding leaving the patient unattended while reaching for a clean, replacement washcloth, and increases the care provider's efficiency by avoiding the time to step away from the patient multiple times to get a fresh traditional washcloth.
When the user is finished washing/cleaning/doing work or when both hands are needed to be free, the sleeve 100 may be stored back on the forearm or wrist by pulling the washcloth sleeve 100 back up the arm to the position shown in
According to a non-illustrated example, the washcloth sleeve 100, 100′ may comprise one or more thumb holes. For example, at least one thumb hole may be provided at or near the first longitudinal end 106, 106′, and/or at least one thumb hole may be provided at or near the second longitudinal end 110, 110′, so that the washcloth sleeve 100, 100′ is reversible. Additionally, or alternatively, at least one longitudinal end 106, 106′, 110, 110′ may have two thumb holes, for example, one thumb hole on the left side and one thumb hole on the right side relative to the longitudinal axis.
Various examples/embodiments are described herein for various articles and/or methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the examples/embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the examples/embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the examples/embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the examples/embodiments described and illustrated herein are nonlimiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments
Accordingly, even though the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated that the various modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the technologies discussed herein, and that the disclosed article, device and/or method will be incorporated into such future developments. Thus, the specification and the drawings are to be regarded as an illustrative thought instead of merely restrictive thought.
With respect to the foregoing discussion, it is noted that specific directional conventions are assumed to be known to those skilled in the art. In this context, the term “front” (or its equivalents) refers to the head end of the crochet hook, where front is proximal to the head with respect to rear. Thus, the term “rear” refers to the back end of the crochet hook, or distal to the head.
Additionally, the term “longitudinal” refers to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve that extends from the first end or cuff (e.g., elbow cuff) to the second end or cuff (e.g., wrist cuff) of the washcloth sleeve. The longitudinal axis provides directional relationship for the terms “axially” (or its equivalents) and “radially” (or its equivalents). For example, “radially” or “radial direction” extends transversely to the longitudinal axis.
Reference throughout the specification to “examples, “in examples,” “with examples,” “various embodiments,” “with embodiments,” “in embodiments,” or “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example/embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “examples, “in examples,” “with examples,” “in various embodiments,” “with embodiments,” “in embodiments,” or “an embodiment,” or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more examples/embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment/example may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features, structures, functions, and/or characteristics of one or more other embodiments/examples without limitation given that such combination is not illogical or non-functional. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof.
It should be understood that references to a single element are not necessarily so limited and may include one or more of such elements. Further, all numbers expressing dimensions, ratios and the like, used in the specification and claims, are to be understood to encompass tolerances and other deviations as represented by the term “about” or “approximately.” Any directional references (e.g., plus, minus, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of examples/embodiments. For example, although the drawings show the crochet hook oriented vertically with respect to the drawing sheet, it will be appreciated that crocheting using gravity and that the crotchet hook may be oriented horizontally in operation.
Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements, relative movement between elements, direct connections, indirect connections, fixed connections, movable connections, operative connections, indirect contact, and/or direct contact. As such, joinder references do not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected/coupled and in fixed relation to each other. Connections of electrical components, if any, may include mechanical connections, electrical connections, wired connections, and/or wireless connections, among others. The use of “e.g.” in the specification is to be construed broadly and is used to provide non-limiting examples of embodiments of the disclosure, and the disclosure is not limited to such examples. Uses of “and” and “or” are to be construed broadly (e.g., to be treated as “and/or”). For example, and without limitation, uses of “and” do not necessarily require all elements or features listed, and uses of “or” are inclusive unless such a construction would be illogical.
All matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the present disclosure.
All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary in made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” etc. should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary. Further, the use of “at least one of” is intended to be inclusive, analogous to the term and/or. As an example, the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” includes A only, B only, C only, or any combination thereof (e.g. AB, AC, BC or ABC). Additionally, use of adjectives such as first, second, etc. should be read to be interchangeable unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63439468 | Jan 2023 | US |
