SWEAT WICKING AND ABSORBING DEVICE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a sweat wicking and absorbing device, and more specifically to a sweat wicking and absorbing device having a palm or finger insertion unit and one or more pockets.

BACKGROUND

It is known that people sweat when they perform physical activity such as exercising, playing sports, etc. Further, many professions require users to perform outdoor activities in hot weather, which also causes the users to sweat. For example, construction workers are required to work outdoors in hot weather, which makes them susceptible to sweating.

Users typically use handkerchiefs, tissues or towels to clean sweat. While such means are effective in cleaning sweat occasionally, these means are ineffective when the user may be sweating profusely, e.g., while exercising, playing sports or performing outdoor activities. For example, handkerchiefs, tissues and towels are known to get wet and stink when used frequently to clean sweat.

Thus, there is a need for a device that may enable a user to conveniently clean sweat, without getting wet or emanating foul smell.

It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 depicts an environment in which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented.

FIG. 2 depicts a plurality of layers of a fluid wicking and absorbing device in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 depicts a plurality of components disposed on an outer layer of a fluid wicking and absorbing device in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts a view of a user removing a palm or finger insertion unit of a fluid wicking device in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts a view of an inner layer of a fluid wicking and absorbing device in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 depicts a different embodiment of a fluid wicking and absorbing device in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts a first fluid wicking device and a second fluid wicking device in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

The present disclosure is directed to a sweat wicking and absorbing device configured to enable a user to conveniently and efficiently clean sweat. The device may include an outer layer made of a hydrophobic material, and an inner layer made of a hydrophilic material. The inner layer may touch the user's skin when the user cleans the sweat by using the device. The device may further include a middle layer disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer, which may be made of a fluid absorbent material. The middle layer may wick or absorb the sweat that may enter the device via the inner layer.

In some aspects, the device may further include a palm or finger insertion unit that may be disposed on the outer layer. The user may insert the user's palm or fingers into the palm or finger insertion unit to conveniently hold the device, while cleaning the sweat by using the device. In an exemplary aspect, the palm or finger insertion unit may be shaped as a rectangle, with a first pair of opposing edges attached to the outer layer and a second pair of opposing edges not attached to the outer layer. The second pair of opposing edges may form an opening into which the user may insert the user's palm to hold the device. In alternative or additional aspects, the palm or finger insertion unit may include or be in the form of one or more finger slots into which the user may insert one or more user's fingers to hold and grip the device. Each finger slot may have an optimal size such that the user may conveniently insert the finger.

The device may further include one or more additional components/units that may enhance user's convenience of operating the device. For example, the device may include one or more pockets or wallet-like slots disposed on the outer layer, which may be configured to hold/store items such as keys, credit card(s), pins, etc. The device may further include a wetness indicator configured to indicate a level of sweat absorbed by the middle layer or a middle layer's saturation level. The device may include wallet like slots to hold credit cards or IDs. The device may additionally include a transparent holder for holding a driver's license.

The device may further include a sweat biomarker monitoring sensor configured to detect the user's health condition based on the sweat absorbed by the middle layer, and transmit information associated with the user's health condition to a user device associated with the user.

In further aspects, the layers of the device may be coated with an anti-microbial coating, which may keep the device germ-free for a long time duration.

The present disclosure discloses a sweat wicking and absorbing device that enables a user to conveniently clean sweat. The device is lightweight and portable, and may thus be carried by the user outdoors, while performing outdoor activities, exercising, playing sports, etc. Since the device has a layer of fluid absorbent material, the device efficiently absorbs large quantities of sweat, without getting wet or stinking. Further, the palm or finger insertion unit enables the user to conveniently hold and use the device.

These and other advantages of the present disclosure are provided in detail herein.

Illustrative Embodiments

The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure are shown, and not intended to be limiting.

FIG. 1 depicts an environment 100 in which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented. FIG. 1 will be described in conjunction with FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The environment 100 may include a user 102 who may be using a fluid wicking and absorbing device 104 (or device 104) to clean fluid off the user's body/face. In an exemplary aspect, the device 104 may be a sweat wicking device that may be configured to wick and absorb sweat off the user's body/face. The user 102 may use the device 104 to clean/absorb the sweat when the user 102 may be outdoors in hot weather, exercising, playing sports, and/or the like.

In some aspects, the device 104 may be shaped like a towel or a handkerchief, and may include an outer layer 106 (or a first layer), an inner layer 202 (or a second layer), and a middle layer 204 (or a third layer) that may be disposed or sandwiched between the outer layer 106 and the inner layer 202. When the user 102 cleans the user's face by using the device 104, the inner layer 202 may touch the user's skin, and the outer layer 106 may be disposed opposite to the inner layer 202 (and thus disposed away from the user's skin).

In some aspects, the outer layer 106 may be made of a flexible hydrophobic material, such as polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and/or the like. Stated another way, the outer layer 106 may be flexible, and may be made of a material that repels water/sweat or does not allow water/sweat to pass or leak through. Further, the inner layer 202 may be made of a flexible hydrophilic material, such as linen, cotton, polyester elastane microfiber, nylon, poly propylene, and/or the like. Stated another way, the inner layer 202 may be flexible, and may be made of a material that attracts water/sweat or allows water/sweat to pass through. Furthermore, the middle layer 204 may be made of a flexible fluid absorbent material, such as a non-woven synthetic fabric, which may be configured to absorb and retain fluid/sweat.

Since the inner layer 202 is made of a hydrophilic material, the inner layer 202 allows the user's sweat to seep into the device 104 when the inner layer 202 touches the user's skin. Since the middle layer 204 is made of a fluid absorbent material, the user's sweat gets absorbed in the middle layer 204. Further, since the outer layer 106 is made of a hydrophobic material, the user's sweat does not leak through the outer layer 106, thereby ensuring that the outer layer 106 is always dry and hence easy for the user 102 to hold.

In some aspects, the device 104 may be rectangular or square-shaped, having dimensions equivalent to a conventional pocket handkerchief. In other aspects, the device 104 may have any other shape, e.g., oval, circular, etc., and/or may have dimensions larger than a conventional pocket handkerchief. When the device 104 may be rectangular or square-shaped, the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 may also be rectangular or square-shaped. Further, dimensions of the inner layer 202 (i.e., inner layer's length and breadth) may be equivalent to dimensions of the outer layer 106 (i.e., outer layer's length and breadth). The middle layer 204 may have any shape, e.g., square, rectangular, oval, circular, etc. Further, in some aspects, dimensions of the middle layer 204 (i.e., middle layer's length and breadth) may be equivalent to the inner or outer layer's dimensions. In other aspects, the middle layer dimensions may be less than the inner or outer layer's dimensions.

In some aspects, the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 may be removably attached with each other, by using one or more fasteners (not shown), along an entire periphery 302 of the inner layer 202 and/or the outer layer 106. The fasteners used for removably attaching the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 may include, but are not limited to, Velcro™, hook-and-loop fasteners, and/or the like. Removable attachment between the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 enables the user 102 to conveniently detach the inner and outer layers 202, 106, and replace the middle layer 204 when, e.g., the middle layer 204 may be saturated with fluid/sweat.

In other aspects, the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 may be permanently (and not removably) attached with each other. In this case, the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 may be hot sealed at the periphery 302 by using a hot press, or by any other known sealing methods. Irrespective of whether the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 are permanently or removably attached with each other, the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 may be attached with each other such that the middle layer 204 may be sealed between the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106. By sealing the middle layer 204 between the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106, the fluid/sweat absorbed by the middle layer 204 may not leak out of the device 104. The middle layer 204 may be sandwiched between the outer layer 106 and the inner layer 202 on both sides of the middle layer 204 with or without being attached to the outer layer 106 and the inner layer 202.

In some aspects, the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 may be attached (either permanently or removably) with each other along all the four edges of the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106. In other aspects, the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 may be attached along three edges, and the fourth edge of both the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 106 may not be attached and may form a “hand opening” (not shown) into which the user 102 may insert the user's hand like a mitt or mitten to hold the device 104.

The device 104 may further include a plurality of components/units including, but not limited to, a palm or finger insertion unit 108, a wetness indicator 304, a sweat biomarker monitoring sensor 306 (or sensor 306), one or more pockets 308 (or pocket 308, which may be shaped as wallet-like slots or may have any other shape), one or more attachment units 310, one or more finger slots, wallet-like credit card/id slots, transparent driver's license/id holder, and/or the like. In some aspects, the device 104 may include all the components/units described above and shown in FIG. 3. In other aspects, the device 104 may not include one or more components/units shown in FIG. 3. For example, in one exemplary aspect, the device 104 may include all the components shown in FIG. 3; in a second exemplary aspect, the device 104 may not include the wetness indicator 304; in a third exemplary aspect, the device 104 may not include the sensor 306, and so on.

The palm or finger insertion unit 108 may be disposed on the outer layer 106, and may be made of the same material as the outer layer 106. In other aspects, the palm or finger insertion unit 108 may be made of a different material than the outer layer 106. The user 102 may conveniently insert the user's hand or fingers into the palm or finger insertion unit 108, to securely hold the device 104 and wipe the sweat off the user's face (or body) by using the device 104, as shown in FIG. 1. Although FIG. 1 shows an aspect in which the user's hand is inserted into the palm or finger insertion unit 108; however such illustration should not be construed as limiting. In additional or alternative aspects, the palm or finger insertion unit 108 may be in the form of or may include one or more finger slots (not shown) into which the user's fingers may be inserted to hold and grip the device 104.

The palm or finger insertion unit 108 may be of any shape and dimensions. In an exemplary aspect, the palm or finger insertion unit 108 may be rectangular having four edges. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the palm or finger insertion unit 108 may include a first pair of opposing edges 312a, 312b, and a second pair of opposing edges 314a, 314b. The first pair of opposing edges 312a, 312b may be parallel to each other, and the second pair of opposition edges 314a, 314b may also be parallel to each other. Further, the first pair of opposing edges 312a, 312b may be perpendicular to the second pair of opposing edges 314a, 314b. In some aspects, the first pair of opposing edges 312a, 312b may be aligned parallel to a length of the outer layer 106, and the second pair of opposing edges 314a, 314b may be aligned parallel to a breadth of the outer layer 106, although the present disclosure is not limited to such an arrangement.

The edge 312a may have the same length as the edge 312b, which may be equivalent to or less than the outer layer's length. Similarly, the edge 314a may have the same length as the edge 314b, which may be equivalent to or less than the outer layer's breadth. In some aspects, the first pair of opposing edges 312a, 312b may be removably attached to the outer layer 106 via one or more fasteners 402 or Velcro™. Removable attachment of the edges 312a, 312b enables the user 102 to conveniently remove the edges 312a, 312b from the outer layer 106 (and hence from the device 104, as shown in FIG. 4) when, e.g., the user 102 requires to clean the device 104 and/or the palm or finger insertion unit 108. After cleaning the device 104 and/or the palm or finger insertion unit 108, the user 102 may re-attach the edges 312a, 312b to the outer layer 106 via the fasteners 402.

In other aspects, the edges 312a, 312b may be permanently attached (e.g., sewn or hot pressed) with the outer layer 106, and may not be removable. In further aspects, the second pair of opposing edges 314a, 314b may not be attached with the outer layer 106, and may form an opening (e.g., a palm opening or a finger opening) configured to receive the user's palm or finger. An example view of the user's palm being inserted into the palm or finger insertion unit 108 via the opening is shown in FIG. 1.

The wetness indicator 304 may be disposed on the outer layer 106, and may be configured to indicate a level of fluid or sweat absorbed by the middle layer 204. For example, the wetness indicator 304 may indicate that the middle layer 204 is 20%, 40% or 80% saturated with sweat. In some aspects, the user 102 may replace the middle layer 204 with a new middle layer or discard the device 104 when the wetness indicator 304 indicates that the middle layer 204 may be close to 100% saturated with sweat. When the outer layer 106 and the inner layer 202 may be removably attached with each other, the user 102 may detach the inner and outer layers 202, 106, and then replace the middle layer 204 with a new middle layer when the wetness indicator 304 indicates that the middle layer 204 may be close to 100% saturated. On the other hand, when the outer layer 106 and the inner layer 202 may be permanently attached with each other, the user 102 may discard the device 104 (and procure a new device) when the wetness indicator 304 indicates that the middle layer 204 may be close to 100% saturated. In this manner, the wetness indicator 304 facilities the user 102 to know an optimal time to replace the middle layer 204 or the device 104, thereby ensuring that the user 102 efficiently cleans the sweat by using the device 104. In some aspects, the middle layer 204 may have a long shelf-time, and may not get 100% saturated even after repeated use, for multiple weeks.

The sensor 306 may be configured to detect a human health condition or user's health condition based on the sweat absorbed by the middle layer 204. A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that sweat includes a wide range of biomarkers such as metabolites, electrolytes, various hormones, and/or the like. The sensor 306 may be in the form of a patch, which may be configured to analyze a plurality of sweat components such as glucose, lactic acid, electrolytes, pH, cortisol, vitamins, ethanol, and/or the like from the user's sweat absorbed by the middle layer 204, and determine whether the user 102 may be suffering from fatigue, disease, stress, dehydration, etc. (collectively referred to as user's health condition). In some aspects, the sensor 306 may be further configured to transmit (e.g., wirelessly) information associated with the user's health condition to a user device (e.g., a mobile phone, a computer, etc.) or to an application (“app”) being executed on the user device. In this manner, the sensor 306 enables the user 102 to conveniently access the user's health condition, and perform remedial actions if the user 102 may be dehydrated or over-stressed.

The pocket 308 (or wallet-like slots) may be configured to store/hold one or more items, e.g., user's credit cards, keys, mobile phone, pins, and/or the like. The pocket 308 may be made of the same material as the outer layer 106, or may be made of a different material. Pocket dimensions may depend on the outer layer's dimensions or device's dimensions. In an exemplary aspect, the pocket 308 may be disposed on the outer layer 106, as shown in FIG. 3. Although FIG. 3 depicts a single pocket 308, the device 104 may include more than one pocket, without departing from the present disclosure scope.

The attachment units 310 may be disposed on one or more corners (or all four corners) of the device 104, e.g., on the outer layer 106 and the inner layer 202, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The attachment units 310 may be, for example, fasteners or Velcro™, which may enable attachment of the device 104 with one or more similar or additional devices, thereby enabling the user 102 to increase the effective length and/or breadth of the sweat wicking device. As an example, the user 102 may attach two or more sweat wicking devices together via the attachment units 310 when the user 102 desires to increase the dimensions of a pocket handkerchief-sized device to be equivalent to a towel-sized device.

In further aspects, the device 104, specifically the outer layer 106 and the inner layer 202, may be coated with an anti-microbial coating, so that the device 104 may remain fresh and germ-free for hygienic use of the device 104 by the user 102.

Although the description above describes an aspect where the device 104 is shaped like a handkerchief or a towel, the present disclosure is not limited to such an aspect. In alternative aspects, the device 104 may be shaped as or be a head band, a wrist band, a shirt, etc. Example views of the device 104 as headband and a wrist band are depicted in FIG. 7, and described later below.

FIG. 6 depicts a fluid wicking device 600 (or device 600) in accordance with the present disclosure. The device 600 may be similar to the device 104 described above and may include the same components/units; however, the pocket 308 or wallet-like slots may be disposed on the palm or finger insertion unit 108, as opposed to on the outer layer 106 as described above. Having the pocket 308 on the palm or finger insertion unit 108, as shown in FIG. 6, increases available real estate on the outer layer 106, which may be used to dispose other components/units and/or to add design/decoration to the outer layer 106. The palm or finger insertion unit 108 may also have wallet-like slots for credit cards or IDs. The palm or finger insertion unit 108 may also have a transparent holder for a drivers'license/id.

Arrangement and functions of the remaining components of the device 600 are same as the arrangement and functions described above in conjunction with FIGS. 1-5, and hence are not described again here for the sake of simplicity and conciseness.

FIG. 7 depicts a first fluid wicking device 702 (or device 702) and a second fluid wicking device 704 (or device 704) in accordance with the present disclosure. The devices 702 and 704 may be similar to the device 104 described above and may include the same components/units; however, the device 702 may be shaped as a headband and the device 704 may be shaped as a wrist band.

In some aspects, the device 704 may also include one or more pockets (not shown), similar to the pocket 308 described above. In an exemplary aspect, each device 702, 704 may include two open sides that may be attached together (shown as an example attachment 706 in FIG. 7) after the user 102 wears the device 702, 704.

Arrangement and functions of the remaining components of the devices 702, 704 are the same as or similar to the arrangement and functions described above in conjunction with the device 104, and hence are not described again here for the sake of simplicity and conciseness.

In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, which illustrate specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

It should also be understood that the word “example” as used herein is intended to be non-exclusionary and non-limiting in nature. More particularly, the word “example” as used herein indicates one among several examples, and it should be understood that no undue emphasis or preference is being directed to the particular example being described.

With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the technologies discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the application is capable of modification and variation.

All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their ordinary meanings as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is 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. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.