Towel With Integrated Handles

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/671,436 which was filed on Jul. 15, 2024 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to personal hygiene and drying accessories. More specifically, the invention relates to a drying towel with integrated handles designed to enhance the efficiency, ergonomics, grip, and usability of body drying. The towel features a contoured, generally figure-eight shape with a first circular lobe and a second circular lobe, connected by a central constriction member, enabling for better coverage and ergonomic handling. The invention incorporates built-in handles at both ends, each having hollowed-out loops for a secure grip, enabling users to pull, stretch, and maneuver the towel easily across the body. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

By way of background, bathing is essential for personal hygiene, but for many individuals, effectively drying the body after a shower or bath can be challenging. Traditional towels for drying the body require a user to grip and maneuver the fabric manually, which can be difficult for elderly individuals, those with mobility impairments, arthritis, or injuries. Drying certain areas of the body such as the back, shoulders, and lower extremities may require significant flexibility and dexterity, making it difficult for those with limited mobility or strength to dry off independently. Existing solutions, such as towel wraps, back scrubbers, or bathrobes, do not provide an effective means for targeted drying, exfoliation, and grip control. Additionally, requesting assistance for such a personal task can be uncomfortable, unsanitary, and time-consuming. Individuals desire an improved drying towel that enables users to effortlessly dry hard-to-reach areas with better grip, ergonomics, control, and efficiency.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved drying towel that enables users to dry hard-to-reach areas such as the back and shoulders without requiring excessive stretching or assistance. Additionally, there is a long-felt need for a towel with a secure grip system, preventing the user from having to grasp the fabric directly. Furthermore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a contoured, ergonomic drying towel that conforms to the body, providing better coverage, comfort, and ease of use. More specifically, there is a long-felt need for a multi-layered drying towel that not only absorbs moisture efficiently but also offers exfoliating and antibacterial properties to enhance hygiene. Finally, there is a long-felt need for an innovative, portable, and adjustable drying towel that can be used independently by elderly individuals, post-surgery patients, and those with mobility impairments, improving their personal hygiene, independence, and overall quality of life.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment, comprises a drying towel with integrated handles. The towel features a generally figure-eight shape, including a first circular lobe and a second circular lobe, connected by a central constriction member that provides an ergonomic contour for improved body coverage. The drying towel includes a first handle at a first end and a second handle at an opposite second end (i.e., opposing end), both of which have hollowed-out loops for enhanced grip and control. The handles can include a rubberized or textured grip to prevent slippage, ensuring a secure and firm grasp even when the user's hands are wet. The towel is multi-layered, with a soft, moisture-wicking top layer for gentle drying and a textured bottom layer designed for exfoliation and scrubbing.

In this manner, the drying towel with integrated handles of the present invention fulfills the aforementioned needs by providing an efficient, ergonomic, and user-friendly solution for individuals who struggle with traditional drying methods. The innovative handle system enables users to control the towel's movement, making it easier to dry hard-to-reach areas without external assistance. The generally figure-eight shape and contoured design improves body coverage and drying efficiency, ensuring a comfortable and thorough drying experience. The multi-layer construction not only enhances absorbency and durability but also provides exfoliating and antibacterial properties, making the towel ideal for daily use, travel, and medical or rehabilitation purposes. Additionally, the non-slip grip handles prevent accidental dropping of the towel, ensuring safety and convenience. In some embodiments, the towel can feature adjustable handles for personalized use, making it suitable for individuals of all ages and genders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a drying towel. The towel comprises a first circular lobe extending from a first end of the towel to a central constriction member, a second circular lobe extends from a second end (i.e., opposing end) of the towel to the central constriction member, wherein the central constriction member has a width smaller than each of the first and second circular lobes, forming an elongated figure-eight shape, a first handle is integrated at the first end and a second handle is integrated at the second end (i.e., opposing end), each handle comprises a hollowed-out loop for gripping, wherein the towel is configured to enable a user to hold the handles and move the towel back and forth across the body to facilitate drying, scrubbing, and exfoliation.

In another aspect, a drying towel is disclosed. The drying towel a first circular lobe and a second circular lobe connected by a central constriction member, wherein the central constriction member has a smaller width than the circular lobes, forming a generally figure-eight shape, a first handle at a first end and a second handle at a second end (i.e., opposing end), each handle has a hollowed-out loop for gripping, a top layer composed of a soft, moisture-wicking material, a bottom layer composed of a textured, absorbent material, wherein the bottom layer is configured for exfoliation and scrubbing while the top layer is configured for gentle drying.

In one embodiment, a drying towel is disclosed. The drying towel comprises a generally figure-eight shaped body having a first circular lobe, a second circular lobe, and a central constriction member, a first handle at a first end and a second handle at a second end (i.e., opposing end), each handle integrated into the towel and comprising a hollowed-out loop, an ergonomic grip material is applied to the inner surfaces of the handles to prevent slipping, wherein length or angle of the handles can be modified to accommodate different user preferences and body types.

In yet another aspect, the top layer is embedded with silver ions or copper ions to provide antibacterial properties and to prevent mold and mildew formation.

In still another embodiment, the handles further comprise a rubberized, textured, or silicone grip on the inner surfaces to enhance control and prevent slippage when used with wet hands.

In still another aspect, the towel is foldable or rollable into a compact form, enabling for convenient storage and portability for travel or gym use.

Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the towel with integrated handles of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tender towel of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing a user using the tender towel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved drying towel that enables users to dry hard-to-reach areas such as the back and shoulders without requiring excessive stretching or assistance. Additionally, there is a long-felt need for a towel with a secure grip system, preventing the user from having to grasp the fabric directly. Furthermore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a contoured, ergonomic drying towel that conforms to the body, providing better coverage, comfort, and case of use. More specifically, there is a long-felt need for a multi-layered drying towel that not only absorbs moisture efficiently but also offers exfoliating and antibacterial properties to enhance hygiene. Finally, there is a long-felt need for an innovative, portable, and adjustable drying towel that can be used independently by elderly individuals, post-surgery patients, and those with mobility impairments, improving their personal hygiene, independence, and overall quality of life.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a drying towel with integrated handles. The drying towel comprises a generally figure-eight shaped body having a first circular lobe, a second circular lobe, and a central constriction member, a first handle at a first end and a second handle at a second end (i.e., opposing end), each handle integrated into the towel and comprising a hollowed-out loop, an ergonomic grip material is applied to the inner surfaces of the handles to prevent slipping, wherein length or angle of the handles can be modified to accommodate different user preferences and body types.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the towel with integrated handles of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The towel with integrated handles of the present invention is designed to improve the efficiency and case of drying the body. Unlike traditional towels, which require a user to manually grip and maneuver the towel fabric, the drying towel 100 of the present invention includes built-in handles at both ends for providing a firm grip, enabling the user to pull, stretch, or move the towel 100 with greater control.

More specifically, the drying towel 100 includes a first circular lobe or member 102 and a second circular lobe or member 104. The circular lobes 102, 104 can be of equal or unequal size depending on user requirements and have arcuate or curved periphery. The first circular lobe 102 extends from a first end 106 of the towel 100 to a central constriction member 108 of the towel 100. The second circular lobe 104 extends from a second end (i.e., opposing end) 110 of the towel 100 to the central constriction member 108. The central constriction member 108 extends continuously between the circular lobes 102, 104 and has a width smaller or narrower than the width of each circular lobe of the circular lobes 102, 104 (referring to FIGS. 1 and 3), thereby providing a contoured and generally ‘figure-eight’ shape to the drying towel 100.

Advantageously, a first handle 112 is integrated at the first end 106 and a corresponding second handle 114 is integrated at the opposite second end (i.e., opposing end) 110 of the towel 100. The handles 112, 114 provide an ergonomic grip to a user and help in pulling the towel 100 back and forth across the body, especially useful for drying the back, shoulders, and hard-to-reach areas. Each handle preferably has a cut-out design and as illustrated, the first handle 112 includes a hollowed-out loop 116 and the second handle 114 has a corresponding hollowed-out loop 118 to enable a user to grip the towel 100. The handles 112, 114 are preferably woven or stitched at the ends 106, 110 respectively but can also be molded into the towel 100 as part of the towel 100.

The inner surface 120, 122 of the handles 112, 114 respectively may have a rubberized, textured, or silicone grip 124 to prevent slipping during use of the towel 100 and is useful for wet hands after a shower or bath. The handles 112, 114 enable a user to easily hold and move the towel 100 without gripping the fabric directly and reduce strain when drying hard-to-reach areas like the back and shoulders.

The tender towel 100 can be made from a variety of materials including but not limited to cotton, bamboo, linen, rayon, nylon, terrycloth, synthetic microfibers, cotton-polyester blend, hemp, and more. Further, the elongated figure-eight shape of the towel 100 enables for better coverage and contours to the body. The handles 112, 114 are beneficial for individuals with limited mobility, elderly users, or those recovering from injuries, for making a better grip and control to apply the necessary pressure to dry off quickly. The towel 100 can come in different sizes, designs, and colors, and can be used for exfoliation, applying lotions or creams, and assisted bathing for elderly or disabled individuals.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the tender towel of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. In the present embodiment, the tender towel 100 has a plurality of layers for providing absorption. As illustrated, the top layer 202 is made of soft and moisture-wicking material such as cotton, microfiber, or bamboo. The bottom layer 204 can be made of a more absorbent or textured material such as terrycloth, hemp, or linen. The towel in the present embodiment can be used for gentle drying using the top layer 202 and for light exfoliation using the bottom layer 204. In one embodiment, the top layer 202 can be embedded with silver ions or copper ions for providing antibacterial properties and preventing mold.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing a user using the tender towel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the user 302 can hold the towel 100 using the handles 112, 114 while the grip 124 provides support to the fingers 304 of the user 302. The towel 100 can be stretched and extended enabling the lobes 102, 104 and the central constriction member 108 to rub against the body 306 of the user 302 for providing effective scrubbing.

Specifically, the user 302 grips the handles 112, 114 and moves the towel portion across their body as needed. The handles 112, 114 make it easier to apply pressure and control the movement of the towel 100, ensuring thorough drying. The figure-eight shape of the towel 100 enables the towel 100 to wrap around the body more effectively than a traditional rectangular towel. The handles 112, 114 can be adjustable in length or angle enabling users to customize the towel's reach and grip based on their body size and the area they are drying. Further, the towel 100 can be easily folded or rolled into a compact form for travel.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “ergonomic drying towel with integrated handles”, “multi-layered drying towel”, “drying towel”, “tender towel”, and “towel” are interchangeable and refer to the drying towel with integrated handles 100 of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the drying towel with integrated handles 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the drying towel with integrated handles 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other configurations of the drying towel with integrated handles 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the drying towel with integrated handles 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the drying towel with integrated handles 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.