Abstract:
A hand drying garment for drying hands during athletics and other situations is provided. The hand drying garment comprises a garment having a front side, a rear side, a pair of sides. A section of absorbent material is mounted to the garment. The section of absorbent material provides a hygienic and effective method of removing perspiration from hands.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority under 35 USC 119 (e) (1) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/205,976 filed Aug. 17, 2015, of common inventorship herewith entitled, “The Basketball Hand Drying Garment,” which is incorporated herein by reference as though the same were set forth in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to the field of athletic wear, and more specifically to the field of sportswear with moisture control functionality. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A game that started with approximately eighteen men in a Young Men&#39;s Christian Association or YMCA building, basketball has grown into a sport that more than three hundred million people play worldwide. The man who created this instantly successful sport had two weeks to create an indoor game that would provide an athletic distraction for a rowdy class of men through the brutal winter. Outdoor games such as soccer and lacrosse were too physical and cumbersome for an indoor venue. Occurring on Dec. 21, 1891, the first basketball game was played with thirteen rules, a soccer ball, peach baskets, and nine players on each side. 
         [0004]    Over the past century the essence of basketball, which is throwing a ball into an elevated goal, has stood the test of time and remained the focus from day one. This simplistic premise along with the fun and excitement of a fast paced game has led basketball to become one of the world&#39;s most popular sports played in backyards, community parks, school gymnasiums and multimillion dollar stadiums. A recurring challenge for competitive basketball players is keeping their hands dry when perspiring during a fast paced basketball matchup. When the hands of the players become saturated with perspiration, players often lick their hands and wipe them along the soles of their shoes to remove the moisture and improve their grip on the ball. 
         [0005]    The prior art has put forth several designs for sportswear with moisture control functionality. Among these are: 
         [0006]    US Patent Publication 2012/0291177 to Michael Luscher describes a moisture control garment formed of a material that has moisture wicking or hydrophobic properties joined to another material with moisture absorbing or hydrophilic properties. In certain embodiments, the moisture wicking and moisture absorbing materials are of similar thickness, have the same estimated shrinkage percentage, and the fibers of such materials are positioned in the same direction. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,276,235 to Daniel P. Naughton describes a wearable wipe unit having one or more absorbent members attachable to and removable from a retaining member or each other. The retaining member has a mouth which attaches to a user&#39;s waist band or belt. One or more absorbent members have a storage unit for securely holding a user&#39;s personal effects. The bottoms of the front and back sides of the retaining member are angled forward for ease of attachment. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,236 to Terry A. Klob describes sportswear having readily accessible toweling means which are detachably and invisibly anchored to the waistband of the garments. The preferred garment embodiment is for tennis shorts which includes at least one, and preferably two, quick release hook and loop fasteners, one at the waistband and optionally, a second one at the cuff line of the shorts. In both instances, these fasteners are incorporated into the garment so as to be essentially invisible when not in use to retain the toweling means. In another of the preferred embodiments of this invention, sleeve towels are releasably attached in an analogous manner to an athletic shirt or jersey. 
         [0009]    None of these prior art references describe the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a line of athletic basketball shorts containing a section of absorbent material in the form of a handprint, printed name, number or logo. 
         [0011]    The present invention is a hand drying garment for drying hands during athletics and other situations. The hand drying garment comprises a garment having a front side, a rear side, a pair of sides. A section of absorbent material is mounted to the garment. The section of absorbent material provides a hygienic and effective method of removing perspiration from hands. 
         [0012]    In addition, the present invention includes a method for drying hands. The method comprises providing a garment having a front side, a rear side, a pair of sides, mounting a section of absorbent material to the garment, and providing a hygienic and effective method of removing perspiration from hands. 
         [0013]    The present invention further includes a hand drying garment for drying hands during athletics and other situations. The hand drying garment comprises a garment having a front side, a rear side, a pair of sides. A section of absorbent material mounted to the front side of the garment with the section of absorbent material being substantially shaped as an open hand print. The section of absorbent material provides a hygienic and effective method of removing perspiration from hands. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is perspective view illustrating a hand drying garment, constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the drying handprint located on the right front bottom area of basketball shorts. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is close up perspective view illustrating the hand drying garment, constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the drying handprint located on the right front bottom area of the basketball shorts. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view illustrating the hand drying garment, constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the drying handprint located on the right front bottom area of the basketball shorts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present invention, hereinafter referred to as a Hand Drying Garment, indicated generally  10 , is a line of athletic basketball shorts or any other type of athletic wear or garment  12  containing a section of absorbent material  14  mounted thereto. The section of absorbent material  14  can be in the form of a hand print, a player&#39;s name, number, or team logo. The Hand Drying Garment  10  of the present invention provides basketball players and other athletes with a more hygienic yet highly effective method of removing perspiration from the hands during play. 
         [0018]    As stated above, the Hand Drying Garment  10  of the present invention includes the section of absorbent material  14  mounted to a portion of the garment  12 . The section of absorbent material  14  can be mounted to any part of the garment  12  including, but not limited to, the front, the sides, and/or the rear of the garment  12 . Preferably, the section of absorbent material  14  is sufficiently sized to fully dry a person&#39;s hand. 
         [0019]    The section of absorbent material  14  of the Hand Drying Garment  10  of the present invention is preferably an absorbent polypropylene material although having the absorbent material  14  constructed from a different material is within the scope of the present invention. The polypropylene material of the section of absorbent material  14  is beneficial for its intended purpose of absorbency since polypropylene is known for its superior water resistance and dries much faster than polyester or nylon. 
         [0020]    The section of absorbent material  14  of the Hand Drying Garment  10  of the present invention is preferably sewn to the garment  12 . However, it is within the scope of the present invention for the section of absorbent material  14  to be mounted to the garment  12  by other means including, but not limited to, welding, adhesive, other mechanical means, formed in the garment  12  during manufacture, etc. 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment, the section of absorbent material  14  of the Hand Drying Garment  10  of the present invention has a distinctive shape, pattern, or format. For instance the section of absorbent material  14  can be shaped as an open hand print, team logo, player&#39;s name or number. 
         [0022]    In addition, preferably, the section of absorbent material  14  of the Hand Drying Garment  10  of the present invention is dyed to match or coordinate with the color of a player&#39;s garment  12 , i.e., uniform. Augmentations that include colors and logos of collegiate and professional basketball organizations can also be added to the present invention. 
         [0023]    The basketball shorts embodiment of the garment  12  of the Hand Drying Garment  10  of the present invention is similar in construction to current regulation basketball shorts, which typically are made of wicking material that absorbs sweat and ensures that it evaporates faster. The basketball shorts are typically oversized and loose fitting to facilitate freedom of movement and a comfortably cool feel while in the heat of play. The shorts of the Hand Drying Garment  10  are produced in a variety of sizes and cuts, appropriate for players of all ages and both genders. The titular hand print accoutrement sets this sportswear apart from common basketball shorts. 
         [0024]    Relatively simple in construction yet extremely effective in application, the Hand Drying Garment  10  of the present invention is functionally operable as soon as the garment  12  is donned. If a player starts to feel his or her hands become slick with perspiration, just a couple of swipes of their palm along the section of absorbent material  14  on the garment  12  completely dries their hand and instantly improves their grip on the ball or other sports equipment. The Hand Drying Garment  10  increases the player&#39;s acumen and eliminates an unseemly practice of licking the hand and wiping it along the shoe sole, a makeshift perspiration solution that is extremely unsanitary. The Hand Drying Garment  10  improves one&#39;s play as well as guarding their health and well-being. 
         [0025]    Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.