Patent Publication Number: US-2012036666-A1

Title: Netted Bathing Ball

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a bathing ball, more particularly to a netted bathing ball including a knitted hem structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a conventional bathing ball  1  includes a multi-layered net structure that has a plurality of folded sheet layers formed into a substantially ball-shaped body. Each of the net sheet layers  11  has a longitudinal marginal portion  111  provided with hem stitches  12  so that the net structure in the marginal portion  111  is held densely. Specifically, the marginal portion  111  is provided with the hem stitches  12  by virtue of a sewing machine. Cleaning effect may be achieved via the net sheet layers  11  of the bathing ball  1 . 
     However, the net sheet layers  11  are normally made from a smooth material such that cleaning effect of the bathing ball  1  is not satisfactory. Moreover, since the hem stitches  12  are not capable of fully covering the marginal portion  111 , the marginal portion  111  is exposed and hence may negatively affect a physical appearance of the bathing ball  1 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a netted bathing ball that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art. 
     According to this invention, a netted bathing ball comprises: a multi-layered net structure that is formed into a substantially ball-shaped body and that has a marginal portion; and a knitted hem structure stitched to and enclosing the marginal portion. The knitted hem structure is made from a crimped filament yarn and a non-crimped filament yarn. The crimped filament yarn and the non-crimped filament yarn are interlaced with each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional bathing ball; 
         FIG. 2  is a magnified view of a portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a netted bathing ball according to this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a magnified view of a portion of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view to illustrate a knitted hem structure of the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TEE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the preferred embodiment of a netted bathing ball according to the present invention includes a multi-layered net structure  2 , and a knitted hem structure  3 . 
     The multi-layered net structure  2  is formed into a substantially ball-shaped body that has a plurality of folded sheet layers. For example, the folded sheet layers may be formed by folding a net sheet, and a string may be used to tie the central parts of the folded sheet layers to form the ball-shaped body. The multi-layered net structure  2  may be made from a woven or non-woven sheet. In this embodiment, the multi-layered net structure  2  is made from a non-woven sheet. The multi-layered net structure  2  has a marginal portion  21 . 
     The knitted hem structure  3  is stitched to the marginal portion  22  of the multi-layered net structure  2 . The marginal portion  21  is enclosed within the knitted hem structure  3 . The knitted hem structure  3  is made from a crimped filament yarn  310  and a non-crimped filament yarn  320 . The crimped filament yarn  310  and the non-crimped filament yarn  320  are interlaced with each other (see  FIG. 5 ). In this embodiment, the crimped filament yarn  310  is a knit-de-knit (KDK) yarn. 
     The knitted hem structure  3  has two rows of consecutive loops  32  and an intermediate crimped section  31 . The marginal portion  21  of the multi-layered net structure  2  is arranged between the rows of the consecutive loops  32 . The rows of the consecutive loops  32  extend along the marginal portion  21  of the multi-layered net structure  2  and are formed of the non-crimped filament yarn  320 . The intermediate crimped section  31  includes a plurality of loops  311  formed from the crimped filament yarn  310 . The loops  311  are formed between and suspended from the two rows of the consecutive loops  32  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     In particular, each of the consecutive loops  32  is pulled through an adjacent one of the consecutive loops  32 , which is formed previously, and the intermediate crimped section has multiple crimped yarn strands that turn to and fro alternately from one of the rows of the consecutive loops  32  to the other one of the rows of the consecutive loops  32 , and that extend through the consecutive loops of the two rows. 
     The crimped filament yarn  310  is densely arranged between the rows of the consecutive loops  32  so that the knitted hem structure  3  has a relatively rough brushing surface. Consequently, the netted bathing ball of this invention can provide an enhanced cleaning effect. Since the knitted hem structure  3  encloses the marginal portion  21  of the multi-layered net structure  2  and has a color matching that of the net structure  2 , a physical appearance of the netted bathing ball of this invention is improved compared to the conventional bathing ball. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements.