Abstract:
An ergonomic dual bath towel assembly used to dry simultaneously both the hair and torso of a bather includes a large body towel and a smaller towel for the hair connected by elastic straps to a larger body towel, which is located spaced apart from the smaller hair towel, thereby freeing the neck and upper shoulder area of the bather from being constricted by the wrapped towels. The two towels are used together and the straps keep the shoulders and neck in the un-encumbered spaced apart region while the hair is drying with the smaller towel and the body is dried by the larger towel. The free region between the head and the torso does not constrict the face, neck and upper shoulder areas while the user is drying the hair and torso/legs with the larger towel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit and priority of provisional application Ser. No. 61/463,726 filed Feb. 22, 2011 under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), which application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a combination bath towel assembly, and more specifically to a combination bath towel assembly used to dry simultaneously both the hair and torso of a bather. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Towels generally are available in a variety of sizes and rectangular shapes to cater to various end uses. Bath towels are sized to be used for drying after bathing; they generally wrap around the torso. 
         [0004]    The patent application of Stein, US 2009/0144874, describes a wearable towel having a preferred embodiment with two openings strategically positioned to secure the towel to the body of the wearer using one arm. In other embodiments, the openings in the towel are replaced by fabric straps engaged at distal ends forming handle-like openings. Yet other embodiments show the use of small multiple through holes along the periphery of the towel at regular intervals engaging such strap handles or small sections of triangularly-shaped towel material with openings via chain-like clips and links through peripheral holes. In yet other embodiments, the main towel is extended in length and area by appending other same-width sections at the edge (conjoining towels) as by sewing. 
         [0005]    The invention of Stein does not serve the function of the combination towel of the current invention since it does not have the requisite features to simultaneously dry the hair and torso of a bather. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an ergonomic a combination bath towel assembly used to dry simultaneously both the hair and torso of a bather. 
         [0007]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a dual towel with a smaller towel for the hair connected by elastic straps to a larger body towel, which is located spaced apart from the smaller hair towel, thereby freeing the neck and upper shoulder area of the bather. 
         [0008]    Other objects which become apparent from the following description of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In one example of the invention, the ergonomic combination dual bath towel assembly includes one smaller towel utilized for drying the hair of a bather; a second larger towel for drying the torso of a bather; and an attachment means for joining the smaller towel to the larger towel in spaced-apart fashion. The attachment means a plurality of elastic bands providing for a selectable gap or span between the towels. The attachment bands may be secured to one or both towel sections permanently as by sewing, or they may be removable at one or both ends from the respective towel sections by the use of fasteners such as snaps, hook and loop sections, or buttons and button holes. They can overlap and be fastened to a face of the respective towel or they can be attached to the peripheral edge thereof. 
         [0010]    In an alternate embodiment, the bands for attachment of the two towel sections are not elastic; they do not stretch. To provide the necessary distance between the two towel sections, longer bands, or straps, are used. 
         [0011]    In a further alternate embodiment, an optional veil is provided over the elastic or non-elastic bands or straps, or in place of the bands or straps. The veil is preferably a fabric or other flexible membrane that covers or replaces the bands or straps. Optionally the veil can assume the shape of a fanciful image, such as a character, such as a butterfly, that includes elastic wings attached to the small and larger towels, to provide the special gap therebetween. The fanciful image can be any fanciful image, including but not limited to a rose, a heart, a Christmas wreath and the like. In a further alternate embodiment the veil in the form of the character, such as a butterfly, including two panels that are stitched together and encompass or surround the existing straps. This provides a safety feature, by prevent a potential choking hazard since the gap between the straps would be spanned and closed by the veil. Further optionally the fanciful image of the veil can be a sports logo. 
         [0012]    The ergonomic features of the combination dual towel of this invention include the location on both towel sections of the attachment bands, their elasticity and/or length, and the size of each towel section. The location of the one or two attachment bands is at the central edge of one long side of the large bath towel permits this section to be wrapped around the torso unencumbered. The corresponding attachment location at the distal end of the one or more bands at the lower edge of the smaller towel section permits movement to dry the hair and to wrap the hair at will without pulling at the neck or shoulder regions. 
         [0013]    Note that the cited prior art application of Stein &#39;874 does not support the ergonomic features described above since the overall geometry is a large rectangular towel with no spaced-apart second smaller towel section strategically attached to facilitate drying of the hair with the possibility of unencumbered wrapping. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0014]    The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the combination bath towel assembly as worn by a bather after exiting a bath; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the combination bath towel assembly in a flat condition; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view, taken at arrow  3  of  FIG. 2 , of the attachment means providing a spaced apart region between the small and large towels of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the attachment means of  FIG. 3  when worn by a bather; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a local perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of the attachment means; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a local perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the attachment means; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a third alternate embodiment for a veil spanning the spatial gap between the towels of the dual towel assembly, wherein the veil is in an unstretched mode; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of  FIG. 7 , for a veil spanning the spatial gap between the towels of the dual towel assembly, wherein the veil is in an outstretched mode; and, 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fourth alternate embodiment where a veil covers the bands or straps connecting the small and large towels of the dual towel assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , combination dual bath towel assembly includes one smaller towel  20  utilized for drying the hair of a bather  100 ; a second larger towel  40  for drying the torso of the bather  100 ; an attachment means spanning a gap between smaller towel  20  and larger towel  40  for joining the smaller towel  20  to the larger towel  40  in spaced-apart fashion. As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the attachment means is comprised of a plurality of elastic bands  62   a ,  62   b  providing for a selectable gap or span  68  between the towels  20 , 40 , to allow an unencumbered region in the vicinity of the bather  100 &#39;s neck and shoulder region, so that the neck, shoulders and arms of the bather  100  are free to move while drying and are not constricted, as would be the case in a hooded towel or single towel. The attachment bands  62   a ,  62   b  may be secured to one or both towel sections  20 ,  40  permanently as by sewing, or they may be removable at one or both ends from the respective towel sections by the use of fasteners such as snaps ( FIG. 5 ), hook and loop sections, or buttons and button holes ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0025]    In an alternate embodiment, the bands  62   a ,  62   b  for attachment of the two towel sections  20 ,  40  are not elastic; they do not stretch. To provide the necessary distance between the two towel sections, longer bands  62   a ,  62   b , or straps are used. 
         [0026]    The ergonomic features of the combination dual towel of this invention include the location on both towel sections  20 ,  40  of the attachment bands  62   a ,  62   b , their elasticity and/or length, the size of the spatial gap  68  therebetween and the size of each towel section  20 ,  40 . The location of the one or two attachment bands  62   a ,  62   b  is preferably at the central edge of one long side of the large bath towel  40  permits this section  40  to be wrapped around the torso of the bather  100  unencumbered. The corresponding attachment location at the distal end of the one or more bands  62   a ,  62   b  at the lower edge of the smaller towel section  20  and the spatial gap  68  provided therebetween permits movement of the shoulders, arms and neck of the bather  100  to dry the hair and to wrap the hair at will without a pulling at the neck or shoulder regions. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  further shows the combination towel assembly  10  being worn by bather  100  who is shown having recently exited a bath tub. The bath towel assembly  10  includes small towel  20 , typically utilized for wrapping and drying the bather&#39;s hair, and a larger towel  40 , typically utilized for wrapping and drying the body of the bather  100 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , smaller towel  20  and large towel  40  are shown affixed to each other as at the neck and shoulder region  50  of the bather  100 , by attachment means, generally designated  60 , so that small towel  20  and larger towel  40  are spaced apart from each other in region  50 . By affixing towel  20  to towel  40  in a spaced apart relationship via attachment means  60 , the bather  100  is assured of the availability and usage of both towels  20  and  40  upon exiting the bath or shower. 
         [0029]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , in use, larger towel  40  can be worn and maintained on the body as a modesty wrap, where towel  40  is wrapped along its larger edge so that its two opposite smaller edges are drawn toward each other as larger towel  40  is wrapped around the bather  100 &#39;s torso, while smaller towel  20 , spaced apart from larger towel  40  by attachment means  60 , continues to absorb moisture from the bather  100 &#39;s hair during other activities. Small towel  20  and large towel  40  are preferably formed of a soft, absorbent material such as cotton; however, other materials could be contemplated such as cotton blends, polyesters, wool or other absorbent fabric materials. 
         [0030]    When the attachment bands  62   a  and  62   b  are unstretched, as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , gap  68  between the two towels may be small. However, preferably, the gap  68  therebetween is larger, such as shown in  FIG. 4 , either when stretched, or provided with a large gap  68  to begin with. 
         [0031]    As also shown in  FIG. 2 , dual bath towel assembly  10  shows smaller towel  20  being rectangular in shape, with two long sides  22   a  and  22   b , and two shorter sides  24   a  and  24   b . Also shown in  FIG. 2  is upward facing surface  26   a , while surface  26   b  faces downward. Smaller towel  20  is shown as preferably rectangular in shape; however, other shapes such as square, ovoid, or trapezoid could be contemplated. Larger towel  40  is shown adjacent but spaced apart from towel  20 , and is also preferably rectangular in shape, with two long sides  42   a  and  42   b  and two short sides  44   a  and  44   b .  FIG. 2  also shows upward facing surface  46   a , while surface  46   b  faces downward. Large towel  40  is shown as preferably rectangular in shape; however, other shapes such as square, ovoid, or trapezoid could be contemplated.  FIG. 2  also shows attachment means  60 , which joins towel  20  to towel  40  in a spaced apart configuration, optionally in a permanent attachment, such as by sewing. 
         [0032]    Attachment means  60  providing spatial gap  68  is shown in  FIG. 3 , which is an enlarged view taken at arrow  3  of  FIG. 2 . As shown in this view, attachment means  60  includes two bands  62   a  and  62   b , preferably formed of an elastic material, which provide an unencumbered region  50  in the vicinity of the user&#39;s neck, shoulders and arms. In this embodiment, bands  62   a  and  62   b  have end portions  64   a  and  64   b . End portions  64   a  and  64   b  are shown permanently affixed to corresponding towel surfaces  26   a  and  46   a  via stitching  66   a  and  66   b  with gap  68  spanning therebetween. Bands  662   a  and  62   b , upon attachment to towels  20  and  40 , have an elastic capability in the span  68  between the stitching  64   a  and  64   b . The elastic capability, as at span  68 , permits towel  20  to be selectively spaced from towel  40  when utilized by bather  100 , as in  FIG. 4 , but also facilitates storage of smaller towel  20  within larger towel  40  when in a folded condition, as on a closet shelf. Additionally, elastic bands  62   a  and  62   b  insure that towels  20  and  40  will maintain their conjoined relationship during washing and drying. While two elastic bands are illustrated to affix towel  20  to towel  40 , other means could be contemplated such as, but not limited to, a single band, an array of bands, an elastic cord, or a combination thereof. 
         [0033]    An alternative method of an attachment means  70  is shown in  FIG. 5 . In this view, only one elastic band  72   a  is illustrated. It is contemplated that band  72   a  could be used in cooperation with one or more other bands or cords, or could function singularly. The features of band  72   a  allow towel  20  to be selectively separated from towel  40 . Band  72   a  has an end portion  74   a , which is shown permanently affixed to surface  26   a  of towel  20  via stitch  76   a . The opposite end  74   b  of band  72   a  incorporates male snap member  77   a  which could be adhered or stitched to band end  74   b . As shown in the view, male snap member  77   a  will be received by female snap member  77   b , which is disposed on surface  46   a  of towel  40  and affixed with an adhesive or a stitch. In this embodiment, towel  20  can be selectively removed from towel  40  at the whim of the bather, while insuring band  72   a  is secured to towel  20 . Alternatively, band  72   a  could be provided with other means for releasable engagement at end  74   b , such as, but not limited to, hook and loop hardware, magnets, clips and hook/loop tape. Additionally, these means for releasable engagement could be contemplated for band end  74   a , while maintaining permanent fixation at end  74   b , or having releasable means disposed at both ends of band  72   a.    
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows still another alternate attachment means  80 . In this view, only one band  82   a  is shown but it is contemplated that band  82   a  could be used in combination with other means, or singularly, as in the previously described embodiment. Band  82   a  as shown in  FIG. 6  is an elongated strap, containing no elastic properties. Since the strap is fabricated from non-stretchable material such as cotton, polyester, or even leather, it must be of sufficient length to allow towel  20  to be used in a spaced part configuration by gap  68  from larger towel  40  in the neck and shoulder region  50 , as best seen in  FIG. 4 . Band  82   a  has ends  84   a  and  84   b , each end having corresponding button holes  86   a  and  86   b . Button hole  86   a  receives button  88   a , disposed on surface  26   a  of towel  20 , and button hole  86   b  receives button  88   b , disposed on surface  46   a  of towel  40 . In this way towel  20  and towel  40  can be maintained in a conjoined but spaced apart relationship, while having the ability to remove band  82   a  completely, or leaving it secured to either towel  20  or towel  40 . While button holes and buttons are the preferred attachment means shown in  FIG. 6 , other suitable means may be contemplated, such as, but not limited to, hook and loop hardware, clips, magnets, zippers or hook/loop tape. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , in a further alternate embodiment, an optional veil  90  is provided over the elastic or non-elastic bands or straps  62   a ,  62   b , or in place of the bands or straps. Veil  90  is preferably a fabric or other flexible membrane that covers or replaces the bands or straps  62   a ,  62   b . Optionally veil  90  can assume the shape of a character, such as a butterfly, that includes elastic wings  92   a ,  92   b  attached to the small and larger towels  20 ,  40 , to provide the special gap  68  therebetween.  FIG. 7  shows veil  90  in an unstretched mode.  FIG. 8  shows veil  90  is a stretched mode, enlarging gap  68  between small towel  20  and larger towel  40 . In a further alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , veil  90 , in the form of the character, such as a butterfly, includes both wing panels  92   a ,  92   b  which cover bands or straps  62   a ,  62   b . Veil  90  can also wrap around and optional enclose bands or straps  62   a ,  62   b . The use of veil  90 , either in place of bands or straps  62   a ,  62   b , or covering bands or straps  62   a ,  62   b , provides a safety feature, by preventing a potential choking hazard since the gap mid portion  68   a  of gap  68  between the bands or straps  62   a ,  62   b  is spanned and closed by the veil  90 . It is further noted that the fanciful image of veil  90  can be any fanciful image, including but not limited to, a rose, a heart, a Christmas wreath and the like. 
         [0036]    In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0037]    It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention, as noted in the appended Claims.