Improvements in Towels.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom) 20th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
COMT DUID DI BULLICATION.
Improvements in Towels.
I, FRANK LEAKE of the City of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia, and
State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TOWELS and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
It is the object of my invention to produce a towel, particularly for the use of
gymnasts and athletes, but designed also for domestic use if desired.
It has been customary heretofore, to provide towels with a soft finish for drying
purposes, and to use a coarser towel or a flesh brush, for the purpose of rubbing down,
or aiding the circulation. It is the aim of my invention to combine in one article,
both a drying and a rubbing surface, and to this end my invention consists, as a new
article of manufacture, of a towel made with a double terry surface, the loops upon
one side being composed of soft material for drying purposes, and the loops upon the
opposite side being of stiffer material, for increasing the circulation, or for rubbing
down.
In the accompanying drawings, the figure is a plan of a complete towel with one
corner turned over to show the under side.
My improved towel is made up after the manner of ordinary terry fabrics, having a
body portion formed of the ground warp and weft threads closely united. The loose
warp threads are of different materials, one set of thread, A, being of comparatively
soft material, forming the terry loops upon one side of the towel, while the other
threads, B, which are of a harsher material such as linen, form the terry loops upon
the opposite side of the towel. I thus provide a towel having one side composed

page_text: entirely of soft terry loops, and the opposite side composed of terry loops of a stiffer
material, the terry surface upon both sides extending from side to side, and from end
to end, with the exception of a small border which is left at the end, of ground warp
and weft threads.
I make the towel of double length of ordinary towels, so that the ends may be
grasped by the hands, and all portions of the body reached, and dried and rubbed
down by it. The soft side of the towel serves to absorb the moisture, and to dry the
body, while the action of the opposite surface of harsher material, serves to create
circulation and to warm up the surface of the body.
The towel may be made upon any ordinary terry loom, and in its method of manu-
facture is not different from ordinary terry fabrics.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. As an improved article of manufacture, a towel composed of a closely woven
body having a double surface of terry loops, the loops upon one side being composed
of soft material, and the loops upon the other side of harsher material, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of September 1888 -
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.