Patent Publication Number: US-2007113334-A1

Title: Bath blanket

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      1. Field  
      The embodiments relate to bath blankets, and more particularly to a thermal bath blanket.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      When the air temperature is much colder than water temperature in a bath tub, the water temperature cools quickly as most bath tubs are not insulated and the large top water layer exchanges heat quickly. As a cost effective way of saving energy from heating water, people have been using spa covers that are seated on top of the spa and does not come in contact with the water. Similar to spa covers, U.S. Pat. No. D485,605 shows an ornamental design for a thermal bath blanket that sits on top of a bath tub and does not come into contact with the water.  
      A problem with the prior art is the thermal covers must be removed when a person enters the water. With the cover removed from over the bath tub or spa, additional heat must be added to the water or the water will quickly cool down.  
     SUMMARY  
      Presented is a bath blanket including a first side and a second side. A first opening is located at a first end. A second opening is located at a second end. A coupler is connected to either the first end or the second end. The bath blanket is sized to fit within a bath tub and be placed on water.  
      Also presented is a bath blanket including a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The second layer is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. A first opening is located at a first end. A second opening is located at a second end. A looped material is connected to either the first end or the second end. The bath blanket is sized to fit within a bath tub and lay on water.  
      Further presented is a bath blanket including a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The second layer is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. A first opening having a flexibly coupled first insert is located at a first end. The first insert having a first coupler to removably couple the first insert to a first portion of the bath blanket. A second opening having a flexibly coupled second insert is located at a second end. The second insert having a second coupler to removably couple the second insert to a second portion of the bath blanket. A looped material is coupled to either the first end or the second end. The bath blanket is sized to fit within a bath tub and lay on bath water. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a bath blanket.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment of a bath blanket.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates yet another embodiment of a bath blanket.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross sectional view the material of the above embodiments. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention generally relates to bath blankets. Referring to the figures, exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described. The exemplary embodiments are provided to illustrate the invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a bath blanket. Bath blanket  100  includes first side  150  and second side  160  (see  FIG. 4 ). Bath blanket  100  further includes first opening  110  at first end  111 , second opening  120  at second end  121 , and coupler  130 . In one embodiment coupler  130  is located near or at second end  121 . In another embodiment, coupler  130  is located at first end  111 . Bath blanket  100  is sized to fit within a bath tub and be placed on water.  
      In one embodiment first opening  110  is larger than second opening  120 . In this embodiment, first opening  110  is sized to allow a person to be in a bath tub filled with water with bath blanket  100  on top of the water where first opening allows a person to have their neck and head uncovered by bath blanket  100 . In another embodiment, first opening  110  is sized for a person&#39;s upper torso to be exposed when situated in a bath tub with bath blanket  100  on top of water. In one embodiment, second opening  120  is sized to allow water to enter a bath tub through opening  120  when bath blanket  100  is placed on top of water in a bath tub. In this embodiment, second opening  120  is not large enough to allow a person&#39;s neck or upper torso to fit through second opening  120 .  
      In another embodiment, first opening  110  is the same size as second opening  120 . In this embodiment, either opening can be placed toward a person&#39;s neckline or towards a bath tub faucet. In one embodiment, bath blanket  100  is about 17 inches across and 54 inches long. It should be noted that other embodiments have other dimensions to fit custom and non-standard bath tubs.  
      In one embodiment bath blanket  100  is made out of material similar to a wet suit for diving. In another embodiment, bath blanket  100  has interior/middle layer  170  (see  FIG. 4 ) disposed between first side  150  and second side  160 . In one embodiment, interior layer  170  is made of neoprene rubber. In another embodiment, metal coatings or other insulators are mixed or coated over interior layer  170 . In yet another embodiment, interior layer  180  is made of closed cell foam trapping gas, such as nitrogen. It should be noted that bath blanket  100 , being constructed as asserted above, floats on top of water. When bath blanket  100  is placed on warm or hot bath water, bath blanket  100 , being insulated, keeps heat within the water. A person can then enjoy warm or hot water for a longer period of time. This helps reduce costs involved with constantly having to add warm or hot water to the bath tub.  
      When a person uses bath blanket  100  while situated in the bath tub, a sauna/spa effect is achieved adding enjoyment to the use of the bath tub and bath blanket  100 . Bath blanket  100 , can also be used as a non-slip bath mat in and/or out of the bath tub to reduce the chances of a person slipping and falling on a wet bath tub or floor.  
      In another embodiment, first side  160  and second side  170  are made of material, such as nylon, stretchable nylon, etc. In one embodiment, first side  160  includes a plurality of raised ridges. In this embodiment, a person can stand on bath blanket  100  in a wet bath tub or place bath blanket  100  outside a bath tub for stepping on. In this embodiment, the plurality of ridges (not shown) provides additional non-slip frictional elements. In one embodiment, interior layer  180  is at least 5 mm. thick. In other embodiments, interior layer  180  can have thicknesses of ¼ inch, ½ inch, ¾ inch, 1 inch, 2 inches, etc.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment of a bath blanket. Bath blanket  200  is similar in construction as bath blanket  100 . Bath blanket  200  includes flexibly coupled first insert  210  and flexibly coupled second insert  220 . Flexibly coupled first insert  210  is connected to the main portion of bath blanket  200  at connecting portion  211 . Flexibly coupled first insert  210  can be folded back on first side  150  to form an opening for a person&#39;s neckline or upper torso. Flexibly coupled first insert has first coupling means  205  to couple with second coupling means  206 . In one embodiment, first and second coupling means are hook and loop type fasteners (e.g., Velcro®). In another embodiment, first and second coupling means can be snaps, loop and hook fasteners, ties, etc.  
      In one embodiment, first flexibly coupled insert  210  is held in place when closed (i.e., within the opening at the first end) by friction between the first insert and the main body of bath blanket  200 . In another embodiment, fist insert couplers  213  and second insert couplers  214  are used to hold first insert in place. In one embodiment, first insert couplers and second insert couplers are hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®).  
      In one embodiment first insert  210  is flush with the first end of bath blanket  200 . In another embodiment, first insert  210  has an additional opening so first insert can be lowered to enclose around a person&#39;s neck (see dashed lines on first insert  210 ). Flexibly coupled second insert  220  has second coupling means  207  and  208  so second insert can be flexed and connected to remain in an open state (pulled back over first side  150 . Second coupling means are similar to first coupling means  205  and  206 . After a bath tub is filled, if a person wants to add more water they can fold second insert back and turn a faucet on. If the bath blanket  200  is in their way, the person can leave first insert couplers  213  and second insert couplers  214  in place, fold the bath blanket so that first coupling means  205  couples with second coupling means  206 . This folds the bath blanket  200  over and allows a person to reach the second insert area/and or faucet. Also, a person could fold bath blanket  200  until first coupling means  205  couples with second coupling means  207 .  
      It should be noted that first insert  210  and second insert  220  can have various sizes. That is, first insert can be equal to, greater than or less than the size of second insert  220 .  
      In one embodiment coupler  130  includes a coupling portion and a hanging portion  140 . Hanging portion  140  can hook over a faucet (e.g., a shower faucet, bath faucet, etc.) when not in use. In one embodiment, hanging portion  140  is made of a nylon rope material. It should be noted that other hanging means, such as a hook, can be used for hanging portion  140 .  
       FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a bath blanket. Bath blanket  300  includes removably coupled first insert  320  and removably coupled second insert  315 . Removably coupled first insert  320  couples within first opening  310  via a plurality of first fasteners  325  and a plurality of second fasteners  326 . Removably coupled second insert  315  couples within second opening  305  via a plurality of third fasteners  328  and a plurality of fourth fasteners  327 .  
      It should be noted that first removably coupled insert  320  and second removably coupled insert  315  can have various sizes. That is, first removably coupled insert  320  can be equal to, greater than or less than the size of removably coupled second insert  315 .  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross sectional view of bath blanket  100 ,  200  and  300 . As illustrated, interior layer  170  is disposed between first side  150  and second side  160 . First side  150 , second side  160  and interior layer  170  are such that bath blankets  100 / 200 / 300  can be formed by a heat source in a press which molds the composite materials. Since bath blanket  100 / 200 / 300  are comprised of molded material, bath blanket  100 / 200 / 300  have “memory.” Therefore, bath blanket  100 / 200 / 300  can be folded, twisted, washed, etc., and will retain its formed shape.  
      Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments. The various appearances of “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.  
      While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.