Abstract:
In its broadest articulation, the present invention is an article of manufacture conceived for the purpose of solving the long-standing problem that traditional towels comprised solely of terry cloth or the like, while generally effective for the purpose of moisture absorption and drying a wet surface, are generally ill-suited for the task of removing loose grains of sand, dirt and grime from a surface. The present invention solves the above cited problem by utilizing a duality of surface composition, the inventive towel having a first side comprised of a terry cloth or like composition, well-suited for moisture absorption and drying a wet surface and a second side comprised of a polyester and polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric, a composition determined by the inventor to offer superior utility in the removal of loose grains of sand, dirt and grime from a surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/673,152 filed Jul. 18, 2012. The content of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/673,152 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application further claims the benefit of priority to PCT Application No. PCT/US13/50966. The content of PCT Application No. PCT/US13/50966 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention is in the technical field of towels, rags, and like devices utilized to dry and/or clean surfaces. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of towels utilized to dry and/or clean a human body. 
         [0007]    (b) Background Art 
         [0008]    Traditional terry cloth towels are adept at absorbing liquids and, therefore, are very useful in the drying of varying wet surfaces. In contrast, it is well-known that synthetic fabric cloths, particularly polyester-based synthetic fabric cloths, excel in the gentle removal of dust, dirt and grime from the sensitive surfaces of modern day electronics, including computer and cellular telephone screens. As well-settled as the relative merits of terry cloth and synthetic cloth are, it is equally well-settled that terry cloth is not particularly useful in the gentle removal of dust, dirt and grime from a surface and it is equally well-settled that not many synthetic cloths are particularly useful in the drying of a wet surface. 
         [0009]    Despite that traditional terry cloth towels, most often woven of cotton, exhibit the aforementioned limitations, they still enjoy great popularity as the towel of choice for leisurely excursions to the beach or pool. In the beach context, a user is present in a circumstance wherein the user may, in series, require a device capable of drying the user&#39;s body upon exiting the ocean, and then seconds later require a device that is capable of removing beach sand from the user&#39;s skin, face or eyes. The cotton terry cloth towel performs well in the first task but falters mightily in the second—the piles found on the surface of a standard cotton terry cloth towel simply do not entrap and remove grains of sand for the surface of the skin, face or eyes. Meanwhile, a synthetic fabric, polyester-based towel exhibits a far superior ability to remove the individual grains of sand from a multitude of surfaces including the skin, face and eyes of a user without concern. However, again, the polyester-based cloth is next to useless for drying the user&#39;s body in the beach context. 
         [0010]    Although the aforementioned beach scenario is merely illustrative, the inventor is unaware of any cloth or towel in existence today that is designed to address both moisture absorption and particle removal needs. Accordingly, the inventor has identified a substantial need for a cloth or towel apparatus that serves both of these needs and does so in the form of a device that is affordable to manufacture and easy to utilize. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention is a towel apparatus for the effective absorption of moisture and the effective removal of grains of sand and dirt and foreign particles from a surface. More particularly, the present invention is a towel apparatus for the effective absorption of moisture and the effective removal of grains of sand and dirt and foreign particles from a surface believed by the inventor to have particularized utility as a beach or bath towel suited for the common tasks of drying the body of a user or removing grains of sand and dirt and foreign particles from the body of a user. 
         [0012]    In its broadest articulation, the present invention is an article of manufacture conceived for the purpose of solving the long-standing problem that traditional towels comprised solely of terry cloth or the like, while generally effective for the purpose of moisture absorption and drying a wet surface, are generally ill-suited for the task of removing loose grains of sand, dirt and grime from a surface. The present invention solves the above cited problem by utilizing a duality of surface composition, the inventive towel having a first side comprised of a terry cloth or like composition, well-suited for moisture absorption and drying a wet surface and a second side comprised of a composite fabric featuring polyester and a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric such as lycra, spandex or elastane, a composition determined by the inventor to offer superior utility in the removal of loose grains of sand, dirt and grime from a surface. 
         [0013]    The present invention may be succinctly stated as a towel apparatus for the effective absorption of moisture and the effective removal of grains of sand and dirt and foreign particles from a surface, the apparatus comprising a first terry cloth surface and a second composite fabric featuring polyester and a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric surface. Alternative embodiments of the invention include variations on this basic statement of the invention, as described herein. 
         [0014]    In alternative embodiment, the present invention is a towel apparatus for the effective absorption of moisture and the effective removal of grains of sand and dirt and foreign particles from a surface, the apparatus comprising a first terry cloth surface, a second composite fabric featuring polyester and a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric surface, and means whereby the two surfaces are permanently bonded together. With still more specificity and still in alternative embodiment, the present invention is a towel apparatus for the effective absorption of moisture and the effective removal of grains of sand and dirt and foreign particles from a surface, the apparatus comprising a first terry cloth surface, a second composite fabric featuring polyester and a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric surface, and a permanent stitch-free fabric adhesive means whereby the two surfaces are bonded together. In this embodiment, the inventor anticipates that the borders of the two surfaces may be further serged to provide for an orderly and attractive border for the resulting towel apparatus. 
         [0015]    The inventor believes the permanent affixation of the first terry cloth surface to the second composite fabric surface to be particularly noteworthy due to shortcomings observed in the prior art when affixation of differing fabric surfaces to one another is not permanent. Namely, U.S. Patent Application Publication #2004/0197523 to Doty (“Doty”) provides for a dual-sided golf towel comprising a golf towel fabric side and a rain-proof fabric side detachably affixed to one another. Per Doty, the ability of the dual surfaces of the towel to be detached from one another allows for ease of cleaning the apparatus. The present inventor believes otherwise. Doty further contemplates that the dual surfaces will be detachably affixed to one another via attachment means located about the shared border of the dual surfaces, the attachment means contemplated being limited to the group of Velcro, zipping means, snap closure means, button means, or “other equivalent means”. The present inventor believes this means of attachment to be unwise for a variety of reasons. 
         [0016]    The advantages in having the two differing fabric surfaces affixed to one another in a permanent way are many. By way of example and without limitation, it is contemplated that the permanent affixation of one fabric surface to the other (i) obviates concern over having to always maintain the pair of fabrics together or the loss of the inventive Doty towel occasioned by the loss of one of the surface components; (ii) makes for a more durable article of manufacture that may be washed or laundered without need for separating its component parts or worry of the destruction of the article; (iii) allows for the easy folding and or rolling of the inventive towel for storage purposes, as opposed to the Doty context in which the surface components are affixed to one another only about their perimeter and, therefore, maintain a structurally limp air pocket as between the surface components inhibiting the orderly folding, rolling or stowing of the inventive article; (iv) forms an inventive towel more suited for embroidery, as the embroidery stitching will not defeat the Doty-proposed detachment of the component surfaces; and (v) avoids the aforementioned structurally limp air pocket, thereby resulting in a flatter inventive towel better suited for screen-printing of graphics on the exterior surfaces. Based upon the above reasons and others that will be clear to those skilled in the art, the inventor believe the now disclosed invention to be superior to the Doty disclosure in that an easy-to-clean, easy-to-fold, easy-to-store inventive towel that is well-suited for decoration or adornment by way of embroidery or screenprinting has clear advantages over the Doty inventive golf towel. 
         [0017]    It is an objective of the herein disclosed inventive towel apparatus to provide a towel that is soft to the skin of a user and that can be used to dry off quickly. It is a further objective of the herein disclosed inventive towel apparatus to provide a towel that can just as readily be utilized in the removal of loose grains of sand, dirt and grime from delicate and sensitive surfaces such as the eyes and face of a user without leaving behind lint and particles of fabric in the process. 
         [0018]    It is a still further objective of the herein disclosed inventive towel apparatus to provide a towel that not only readily captures loose grains of sand, dirt and grime from a surface, but that also clearly showcases captured loose grains of sand, dirt and grime, thus providing indices that the towel has been effective in the removal of the same. Specifically, the inventor has determined that the polyester fabric surface of the inventive towel is not only very effective in capturing sand, dirt and grime, but also makes captured sand, dirt and grime very easy to see on the face of the polyester material—this tendency helps a person know for sure that the towel is effective in use. 
         [0019]    It is still a further objective of the herein disclosed inventive towel apparatus to provide a towel that may be effective at cleaning delicate and sensitive surfaces that may not be associated with the body of a user. Specifically, the inventor believes the polyester components of the towel to have particularized utility in the cleaning of computer monitors, laptop screens, television screens, cellular telephone screens, and eyeglasses among other things. 
         [0020]    It is still a further objective of the herein disclosed inventive towel apparatus to provide a towel that has superior properties in cleaning and caring for a baby, infant, or toddler. It is well known that babies, infants and toddlers have propensities to create messes wherever they are present and spend any appreciable amount of time. Further, it is well known that the skin or babies and infants is extremely delicate and sensitive and, therefore, demands the utmost care and gentleness in cleaning and drying the same. The present towel invention provides, in the polyester and a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric surface, a gentle surface for use to clean the skin and delicate features of a baby or infant and, in the terry cloth surface, a gentle surface to dry the skin and delicate features of a baby or infant. 
         [0021]    It is still a further objective of the herein disclosed inventive towel to provide an article of manufacture that may be readily utilized for promotional or advocacy purposes as occasioned by the tendency of the polyester fabric surface to exhibit superior ability in the accepting and display of screen-printed graphics, logos, words, slogans and other visual components. In this sense, the now proposed inventive towel may be commercialized as a promotional item advertising a particular business through graphic material imprinted upon the polyester and a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric surface and/or may itself be marketed and sold as based upon a particular design, brand, logo, or sports team printed upon the polyester and a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric surface. 
         [0022]    It is still a further objective of the herein disclosed inventive towel to provide a towel that does not require a tag to be integrated within its construction. Specifically, as noted above, the polyester and a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric surface exhibits a superior ability to accept and display screen-printing and, therefore, the inventor contemplates a “tag-less” towel in which the information typically reserved for the towel tag may be screen-printed directly upon the polyester and a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a blown-apart view of the contemplated best mode of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a second blown-apart view of the contemplated best mode of the present invention, this view specifically demonstrating the relationships of the structural components; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first side of the contemplated best mode of the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second side of the contemplated best mode of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 1  there is shown the individualized components contemplated to comprise the best mode of the now disclosed inventive towel apparatus. Specifically, there is shown a cotton terry cloth component  10  having a plurality of piles  11  as one might expect to find in a typical terry cloth  10  construction. There is further depicted a polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  and a stitch-free fabric adhesive component  12 . While not particularly important to the view depicted in  FIG. 1 , there is shown a terry cloth border  14  that forms at the edge of the cotton terry cloth component  10  and there is shown a polyester/polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric border  15  that forms at the edge of the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13 . The identification of the terry cloth border  14  and the polyester/polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric border  15  is intended to engender a more complete understanding of the interplay of the cotton terry cloth component  10  and the polyester-based fabric component  13  when the two components are adjoined as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 . 
         [0028]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 , the best mode as shown demonstrates the cotton terry cloth component  10  being oriented in such way that its piles  11  face outwardly when affixed to the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  by means of the stitch-free fabric adhesive component  12 . In this sense, the essence of the invention becomes clear—a unitary towel apparatus comprising a first cotton terry cloth  10  surface and a second polyester-lycra composite fabric  13  surface. 
         [0029]    In further detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 , the contemplated best mode is shown in blown-apart view so that the comparative attributes of the individual components of the invention may be appreciated. Specifically, it should be noted that the dimensions, shape and size of the cotton terry cloth component  10  are contemplated to be equivalent to the dimensions, shape and size of the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  12  such that the two components, when aligned and affixed to one another using the stitch-free fabric adhesive  12 , form a single towel having the dimensions, shape and relative size attributes of the cotton terry cloth component  10  and the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13 . Notwithstanding the above statement of the dimensions of the surface components relative to one another, it is expressly contemplated that a cotton terry cloth component  10  bonded to a polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  of precisely equivalent dimensions by means of a stitch-free fabric adhesive  12  will result in a relatively unattractive “sandwich” appearance when the resultant towel is viewed along the confluence of the terry cloth border  14  and the polyester/polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric border  15 . For this reason, it is expressly contemplated that the cotton terry cloth component  10  and the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  should be proportional equivalents, with one being of slightly larger dimension than the other to allow the overlapping and serging of the terry cloth border  14  and the polyester/polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric border  15  to provide for a more orderly and attractive appearance to the resultant towel. 
         [0030]    The construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  are that the best mode of the now disclosed invention, as shown, is to be constructed from a cotton terry cloth component  10 , a polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13 , and a stitch-free fabric adhesive component  12 . Notwithstanding these preferences, the inventor recognizes that numerous variations of this composition do, in fact, exist. For instance, it is well known in the industry that cloths and towels utilizing a terry cloth construction have superior moisture absorption properties occasioned by the added absorbent surface area contained with the piles of the terry cloth construction. Further, with regard to terry cloth construction, the most common material utilized is cotton, though it is well-known in the industry that terry cloth may contain polyester as well. The effectiveness of a terry cloth construction in terms of moisture absorption is directly proportional to the percentage composition of the terry cloth that is cotton—more cotton begets more effective moisture absorption. Accordingly, while the disclosed best mode of the present invention does contemplate that the terry cloth component  10  will be comprised of 100% cotton, the inventor expressly acknowledges that any cotton composite terry cloth may be utilized as well, including but not limited to cotton composites featuring polyester. 
         [0031]    Likewise and referring still to the best mode as depicted in  FIG. 1 , as with variations available with regard to the cotton terry cloth component  10 , the polyester composite fabric component  13  is capable of numerous compositions, other than a polyester-lycra composite as depicted in the best mode, that may be effective in the removal of grains of sand and dirt and foreign particles from a surface. It is specifically contemplated that the polyester composite fabric component  13  may be comprised of any polyester composite material, including without limitation the preferred composite of polyester and lycra deemed to be particularly effective in the removal of loose grains of sand, dirt and grime. 
         [0032]    Further and still referring to the best mode as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the spirit of the invention lies in the construction of the towel apparatus such that alternative cotton terry cloth component  10  and polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  are unobstructed and available for ready and interchangeable utilization by a person. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the perceived best mode contemplates that the alternative cotton terry cloth component  10  and the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  be on opposing sides of the towel attached back-to-back by the stitch-free fabric adhesive  12  rather than being attached along a seam comprising the terry cloth border  14  and the polyester/polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric border  15  and thereby being configured on the same side of the towel. Despite this preference that the alternative cotton terry cloth component  10  and the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  be on opposing sides of the towel, the inventor acknowledges that any configuration of the surfaces may serve the intended purpose as long as a user has access to the alternative cotton terry cloth component  10  and the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  to provide alternating and interchangeable moisture absorbing and sand/dirt removal functionalities, respectively. 
         [0033]    Still further and still referring to the best mode as depicted in  FIG. 1 , means whereby the cotton terry cloth component  10  is affixed to the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  may be by any means that has the end result of a structurally sound towel having a first side comprising the cotton terry cloth component  10  and a second side comprising the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13 . Accordingly, the inventor expressly acknowledges that alternative adhesives exist to the stitch-free fabric adhesive  12  proposed in the best mode including, without limitation varying glues, hook and loop systems such as Velcro®, and bonding of the cotton terry cloth component  10  to the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  by way of actual stitching. Further, in recognition that the spirit of the invention is dependent upon the alternative and interchangeable first side comprising the cotton terry cloth component  10  and second side comprising the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13 , it is expressly contemplated, though not claimed in this disclosure, that a functionally equivalent towel apparatus may be achieved through varying methods of weaving cotton and polyester or a polyester composite so as to have the final result of a towel having a cotton terry cloth side and alternative polyester or polyester composite side. 
         [0034]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 2  there is shown a second blown-apart view of the contemplated best mode of the invention, this view demonstrating the individual components of the invention in contact and demonstrating the folding patterns likely to be utilized in serging the borders of the towel apparatus. Specifically there is shown the cotton terry cloth component  10  bonded to the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  via the stitch-free fabric adhesive means  12 . As demonstrated, the cotton terry cloth component  10  and the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  are bonded in such way that the piles  11  of the cotton terry cloth component  10  face outwardly from one side of the towel apparatus and the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13 , though equivalent in shape and proportion of dimensions, is an order of magnitude larger than the cotton terry cloth component  10 , thus allowing for the overlapping and serging of the two components to yield a structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing resultant towel apparatus. Specifically, the terry cloth border  14  about the edge of the cotton terry cloth component  10  is folded upon itself at a folding point  17 . Similarly, the polyester/polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric border  15  about the edge of the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  is folded upon itself at a folding point  16  and, in fact, overlaps the folding point  17  of the cotton terry cloth component  10 . Though not depicted in  FIG. 2 , it is contemplated that the terry cloth border  14  and the polyester/polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric border  15  will both be pinned to the piles  11  in the face of the cotton terry cloth component  10  via stitching and, as such, will be serged providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the edges of the towel apparatus. As can be deduced from the illustration of  FIG. 2 , upon serging of the terry cloth border  14  and the polyester/polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric border  15 , the folding point  16  of the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  becomes the border of the towel apparatus and the stitch-free fabric adhesive  12  is completely enveloped within the interior of the towel apparatus. 
         [0035]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 3  there is shown an overhead perspective view of one side of the contemplated best mode of the invention, this view demonstrating the appearance of the finished towel apparatus when viewing the apparatus head-on from the cotton terry cloth side of the apparatus. Specifically, there is shown the cotton terry cloth component  10  having a stitch seam  18  about its perimeter, the stitch seam  18  occurring along the polyester/polyurethane-polyurea copolymer composite fabric border  15  that has been folded over the edges of the cotton terry cloth component  10  at the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  folding point  16 , thus serging the edges of the resulting towel apparatus. 
         [0036]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 4  there is shown an overhead perspective view of one side of the contemplated best mode of the invention, this view demonstrating the appearance of the finished towel apparatus when viewing the apparatus head-on from the polyester-lycra composite fabric side of the apparatus. Specifically, there is shown the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  having the stitch-seam  18  also present in the cotton terry cloth component  10  of the towel apparatus, said stitch-seam  18  being occasioned by the serging of the polyester-lycra composite fabric component  13  and the cotton terry cloth component  10 , thus creating a border for the towel apparatus comprised of the folding point  16  of the polyester-lycra composite fabric component. 
         [0037]    Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0038]    Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
         [0039]    It is understood that the above described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description. 
         [0040]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.