Patent Publication Number: US-8984667-B1

Title: Water-repelling hand mitt apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to hand mitt apparatuses and more particularly pertains to a new hand mitt apparatus for removing excess water from a person&#39;s hair and body after getting wet. 
     2. Summary of the Disclosure 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a flexible hand mitt having a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is water-repellant such that sliding the first surface against a body of a user removes excess water from the user&#39;s body. A thumb strap is coupled to the hand mitt and extends over the second surface. A medial portion of the thumb strap is spaced from the second surface such that the thumb strap is configured to receive a thumb of the user when the hand mitt is worn by the user. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a water-repelling hand mitt apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an in-use perspective view of a pair of hand mitts of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new hand mitt apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the water-repelling hand mitt apparatus  10  generally comprises a flexible hand mitt  12  having a first surface  14 , a second surface  16  and a perimeter wall  18  extending between the first surface  14  and the second surface  16 . The first surface  14  is water-repellant such that sliding the first surface  14  against a body of a user removes excess water from the user&#39;s body. In particular, the first surface  14  may be comprised of an elastomeric material such as silicone rubber or the like. The hand mitt  12  may comprise a pair of hand mitts  12  so that the user can wear one hand mitt  12  on each hand  36 . Because both hand mitts  12  are identical, only one hand mitt  12  will be described in detail. 
     The perimeter wall  18  includes a first lateral side  20 , a second lateral side  22 , a back side  24  and a front side  26 . The first lateral side  20  may be concavely arcuate. Each of the second lateral side  22  and the back side  24  may be convexly arcuate. The front side  26  has a plurality of rounded edges  28 . A middle one 30 of the rounded edges  28  extends further away from the back side  24  than each of a pair of outer ones  32  of the rounded edges  28 . The perimeter wall  18  further includes an extension  34  that extends outwardly from and is coextensive with the perimeter wall  18 . The extension  34  extends toward the second surface  16  and away from the first surface  14 . In particular, the extension  34  may extend around the first lateral side  20 , the second lateral side  22  and the back side  24 . 
     A pair of spaced dividers  40  is coupled to and extends upwardly from the second surface  16 . The dividers  40  are aligned and configured to space apart fingers  44  of the user. The dividers  40  extend in a longitudinal direction across the hand mitt  12  and are positioned proximate the front side  26  of the hand mitt  12 . The dividers  40  may be equally spaced between the first  20  and second  22  lateral sides. 
     A thumb strap  50  is coupled to the hand mitt  12 . The thumb strap  50  extends over the second surface  16  between the first  20  and second  22  lateral sides. A medial portion  52  of the thumb strap  50  is spaced from the second surface  16  such that the thumb strap  52  is configured to receive a thumb  54  of the user when the hand mitt  12  is worn by the user. The thumb strap  52  is positioned proximate the back side  24  of the hand mitt  12 . 
     A plurality of slots  62  extends downwardly into the first surface  14  wherein the slots  62  are configured to capture environmental air in order to help repel water from the user&#39;s body. The slots  62  extend between the first  20  and second  22  lateral sides and between the front  26  and back  24  sides of the hand mitt  12 . A plurality of protrusions  64  extends upwardly from the first surface  14 . Each of the protrusions  64  is positioned between an associated one of the slots  62 . The protrusions  64  may have a plurality of ridges  66  positioned thereon. Each of the protrusions  64  and the slots  62  may be arcuate. The slots  62  and protrusions  64  form a first group  68  and a second group  70  that each extend between the first lateral side  20  and the second lateral side  22 . The first  68  and second  70  groups extend in opposite directions with respect to each other. Each of the first  68  and second  70  groups terminate at a respective outer edge  72  of the associated first  68  and second  70  groups. The outer edges  72  are positioned adjacent to each other. The slots  62  and protrusions  64  are also positioned proximate the front side  26  and the back side  24  and may form v-shaped segments  74  on each of the front side  26  and the back side  24 . Each of the slots  62  may have a thickness between approximately 0.1 centimeters and 1.0 centimeters. Each of the protrusions  64  may have a thickness between approximately 0.2 centimeters and 1.2 centimeters. 
     A mounting apparatus  48  comprises a base portion  58  and at least one mounting hook  56 , though preferably a pair of mounting hooks  56  is provided. Each of the mounting hooks  56  is coupled to and extends outwardly from the base portion  58  wherein each of the mounting hooks  56  is configured for supporting an associated one of the hand mitts  12  thereon when the respective thumb strap  50  is positioned on the associated mounting hook  56 . Each of the mounting hooks  56  may be arcuate. 
     In use, as stated above and shown in the Figures, the thumb  54  of the user is slid into the thumb strap  50 , while the user&#39;s fingers  44  are positioned between the dividers  40 . The first surface  14  is then rubbed against hair and body of the user to remove excess water from the user&#39;s hair and body. The hand mitt  12  is especially useful after the user has gone swimming or has taken a shower. The ridges  66  allow the hand mitt  12  to comb over body hair of the user. The hand mitt  12  is shaken to remove any water collected in the hand mitt  12 . The user may then towel dry his hair and body to complete the drying process. In this manner, less water is soaked into the towel thereby allowing the towel to dry out quicker for subsequent use. The mounting apparatus  48  is used to hang the hand mitts  12  when the hand mitts  12  are not in use. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.