Patent Publication Number: US-2006010555-A1

Title: Wearable sweat towel and garment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to a wearable towel garment. More specifically, the present invention teaches a sweat inducing training garment, such as which is wearable by a user underneath a warm-up suit or the like, and which functions to assist in the training and conditioning of the athlete.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      The provision of sweat towels and related perspiration removal garments is known in both sporting event and other miscellaneous exercise related industries. The objective of such towels is to facilitate removal of the sweat buildup and perspiration of the individual.  
      A further example drawn from the prior art is the wearable garment set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,021, issued to Somerville, and which in particular teaches a moisture absorbing garment for use by athletes during playing breaks. The garment exhibits a substantially shirt-like appearance and includes front and rear conjoined panels constructed of a moisture absorbent towel material. The front panel is exhibited as being substantially longer than the rear panel and extends to the thigh of the user.  
      A shoulder and upper arm section of like moisture absorbent material projects from each side of both the front and rear panels and is generally aligned with the joined top side of the front and rear panels. Adjacent sides of the front and rear panels and upper arm sections open and hang free so that the front panel can be readily used as a towel to wipe the wearer&#39;s face. A central head opening in the garment extends through both the joined front and rear panels adjacent to the head opening. A hood of moisture absorbent towel material is attached to the joined front and rear panels adjacent to the head opening.  
      While providing for effective perspiration reduction during play breaks, the wearable garment of Somerville is not suited for use as a training garment. In particular, Somerville does not teach a sweat inducing and wearable garment which is particularly capable of being worn underneath other garments, such as warm-up jump suit.  
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
      The present invention teaches a wearable and sweat inducing garment capable of being worn by a user and which functions both as a sweat removal and a training garment. The wearable garment includes a front panel and an interconnected rear panel. Each of the panels exhibits a substantially rectangular shape, with a fairly identical overall length, and is constructed of an absorbent material, such as terrycloth or the like.  
      Inter-engaging button and snap fasteners are located in spaced apart fashion along opposing and extending side edges associated with the front and rear panels and are inter-engageably attached to conjoin the front and rear panels together. It is also envisioned that other types of fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners, button and hole fasteners, and the like, can be incorporated into the present invention.  
      In a preferred application, the garment exhibits an overall shape and size such that, when being worn upon the torso and upper body of the user, the size of the garment permits the wearing of an over-garment, and such as is particularly desirable during training exercises. The garment may further be used as a warm-up suit in a further preferred embodiment.  
      A hood is constructed of a moisture absorbent material and extends from between the front and rear panels, an aperture being defined within the hood such that it covers a head and neck of a wearer of the garment. In an alternate embodiment, the hood is substituted by a substantially “V” shaped aperture. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental view illustrating the wearable garment according to the present invention and in particular showing the inter-engaging snap portions extending along each of the first and second sides of the front and rear panels;  
       FIG. 2  is a front plan view of a wearable garment according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention and which in particular illustrates in phantom a pair of hand supporting and inside located pockets;  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional illustration, in perspective, of an inwardly facing surface associated with the front panel drawn from the embodiment of  FIG. 1  and which illustrates a common and elongated extending inside pocket;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective illustration of an outstretched garment according to the hooded preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 5  is a likewise perspective illustration of an outstretched garment according to the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a wearable garment is illustrated at  10  according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As previously discussed, the present invention provides an improved and sweat-inducing wearable garment, such as in particular which is capable of being underneath a training over-garment (see in phantom at  12  in  FIG. 1 ), and to assist in physical and endurance training associated with athletes and other athletically directed participants.  
      As is also illustrated in the outstretched perspective view of  FIG. 3 , when viewed in combination with  FIG. 1 , the wearable garment  10  is provided as a generally overall rectangular shaped item and which is constructed of a moisture absorbent material such as terrycloth or the like. The garment  10 , upon being placed upon a wearer  14 , see as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a front panel  16  and a substantially equal length and extending rear panel  18  (see as further illustrated by imaginary dividing line  20  in  FIG. 4 ).  
      A head and neck receiving aperture  22  (see  FIG. 4 ) is defined along the boundary between the front  16  and rear  18  panels. A hooded portion  24  of a likewise moisture absorbent material extends from the front and rear panels, further such that the hood covers a head and neck of a user (again  FIG. 1 ) upon wearing of the garment  10 .  
      Fasteners are located along opposing and extending sides associated with the front  16  and rear  18  panels and are inter-engageable to conjoin the panels together as shown in  FIG. 1 . In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners are provided as snap and button portions  26  and  28  and which inter-engage to conjoin the panels in the manner again shown in  FIG. 1 . Without limitation, it is also understood that other types of fasteners can be employed along the opposing and extending edges of the panels  16  and  18 , these including hook and loop fasteners, button and hole fasteners, and the like.  
      Each of the front  16  and rear  18  panels include both outwardly and inwardly facing recesses. The front panel  16 , in the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 1, 3  and  4 , in particular further includes an elongate extending pocket  30  defined upon the inwardly facing surface. The pocket  30  in the preferred embodiment is provided as an additional strip of terrycloth or like material, and which is sewn (see seams  32  and  34  at top and bottom edges of strip) to the facing surface of the front panel  16 .  
      Opposing side edges of the pocket  30  can be tapered, such as at  36  and  38 , and in order to facilitate seating of the user&#39;s hands, such further being inserted between the front  16  and rear  18  panels and further such as shown in the gap  40  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . It is also envisioned that the elongated pocket  30  can be sewn or otherwise secured to the opposite outwardly facing surface of the front panel  16 . Referring again to  FIG. 1 , it is further envisioned that an indicia, or logo, design  42  can be imprinted upon a selected surface of the garment  10 , and such as is shown placed upon the front panel  16  in  FIG. 1 .  
      Referring further to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , a wearable garment is illustrated at  44  according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The garment  44  is largely identical to that illustrated at  10  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the difference primarily being the shaping of the head and neck receiving aperture, see as defined by inwardly facing edges  46 ,  48  and  50  and which define an overall “V” neck shape.  
      An additional feature particular to the garment  44  is the substitution of the elongate hand supporting recess by a pair of spaced apart and individual receiving recess pockets  52  and  54 , which are again illustrated as being defined within a corresponding inwardly facing surface associated with a front panel  56  arrayed opposite a conjoined and extending rear panel  58 . Although not clearly shown, it is understood that each pocket is sewn along three sides and in order to define a substantially “U” shaped enclosure to seat the hands of the user, such as when running or during other outdoor exercises. As with the elongated recess  30  described in reference to the first preferred embodiment, the pockets  52  and  54  may also be defined upon the outwardly facing surface of the front panel  56 .  
      Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. In particular, and although not illustrated, it is envisioned that the front and rear panels in either embodiment can be reshaped as first and second panels which fold about a side edge associated with a user and which are fastened or otherwise conjoined along a single side edge by button and snap fasteners or the like.