US20170202405A1

US20170202405A1 - Connectible showering/bathing mitts for washing/drying the entire body

Info

Publication number: US20170202405A1
Application number: US15/419,807
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen James Moravsky
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-28
Filing date: 2017-01-30
Publication date: 2017-07-20

Abstract

A pair of water-absorbent mitts for showering/bathing that can be connected at the tips. Connection at the tips allows the mitts to be joined in a continuous length which facilitates washing/drying of the back.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many and diverse types of washcloths, bath/shower mitts, gloves and sponges are known in the art.
Washcloths/sponges are virtually invariably used one at a time and therefore make washing one's body a slow-going, one-handed ordeal. Dropping the cloth/sponge is also hazardous in that in can result in a slip and fall in the bathtub.
Washcloth, sponges, mitts and gloves are awkwardly difficult—if not impossible—to use to wash one's back.
Various fabric strips—with or without handles—specifically for washing one's back are known in the art: they have a major drawback in that they are limited to use on a person's back and are useless for use on the rest of the body.
None of the said showering/bathing devices can be used for drying the body.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes all the disadvantages of the aforementioned showering/bathing devices by allowing the user to readily and temporarily connect the tips of two water-absorbent mitts in order to wash/dry the user's back. The present invention is also vastly superior to all the aforementioned devices in that it allows the user to wash/dry the entire body using two hands.
The use of water-absorbent mitts that are connectible allows the user to wash/dry the entire body which makes for a much safer shower since this invention is very difficult to drop during showering.
The present invention is also superior to anything in the prior art since it can be used for drying the entire body, thereby eliminating the need for a towel. This results in a significantly reduced wash load with commensurate monetary savings.
The present invention is also environmentally friendly, since by eliminating the need for a towel—thus reducing wash load—water and drying energy are saved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE PHOTOS

FIG. 1 is an overview of the connectible showering/bathing mitt. This mitt is referred to as the “ball” mitt since it has 2 ball-buttons attached to its closed end (ref. 1). This photo shows the preferred embodiment of the “ball” mitt of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an overview of the “loop” mitt—since it has 2 loop connectors (ref. 8) sewn to its closed end. This photo shows the preferred embodiment of this “loop” mitt.

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the user with hands inserted into the mitts of FIGS. 1 & 2.

FIG. 4 is a close-up of the ends of both mitts with the 2 ball-buttons of one mitt engaged through the 2 loop connectors of the mating mitt.

FIG. 5 is a full-length view of both mitts connected at their closed ends via their ball & loop connectors. This is referred to as “full-length” mode.

FIG. 6 shows the user employing the “full-length” mode of FIG. 5 in a vertical fashion to wash/dry upper back region.

FIG. 7 shows the user employing the “full-length” mode of FIG. 5 in a horizontal fashion to wash/dry the lower back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

THE CONNECTIBLE SHOWERING/BATHING MITTS (FIGS. 1 & 2)—made of water-absorbent fabric—are completely simple and safe to use for washing and drying the user's entire body.
This invention consists of two mitts made of water-absorbent fabric (the preferred embodiment is made of a cotton fabric having the texture and absorbency of a soft dishtowel). These two mitts can be connected at the tips of the closed ends using ball-button/loop fasteners (FIG. 5, ref's 1 & 8).
The connection of the mitts at the tips/closed ends results in a continuous length of fabric which can be conveniently used for washing/drying the user's back during showering/bathing (FIGS. 6-9).
The user's hands are inserted—one into each mitt—via open ends having convenient access slits (FIGS. 1 & 2, ref. 6). Results will appear as in FIG. 3. User then wets body and mitts. User then lathers up mitts with soap and proceeds to wash body.
User then engages ball-button/loop connectors by pushing ball (FIG. 1, ref. 1) at tip of ball mitt (FIG. 1) through loop (FIG. 2, ref. 8) of loop mitt (FIG. 2). Procedure is repeated for 2^ndball/loop pair. Resulting connection appears as in FIG. 4. Connecting mitts as per these instructions results in a continuous length of fabric referred to as “full-length” mode (FIG. 5). This “full-length” mode can now be employed by the user to conveniently and safely wash the back (FIGS. 6 & 7).
User now rinses off body and rinses and wrings out CONNECTIBLE SHOWERING/BATHING MITTS “FULL-LENGTH” MODE. User then proceeds to use mitts in “full-length” mode to dry the back (FIGS. 6 & 7), wringing out when necessary.
User then disconnects the ball/loop connectors and proceeds to dry off the rest of the body—one hand in each mitt (FIG. 3)—wringing out mitts when necessary.
Each mitt is made by taking a rectangular piece of water-absorbent fabric (FIGS. 1 & 2, ref. 7)—approx., but not limited to 18″×16″—and folding it in half along the length. This results in a piece of doubled over fabric roughly 18″×8″.
One mitt has two individual lengths of water-resistant cord (FIG. 1, ref. 3)—each approx. ⅜″ in diameter and 3″ in length—inserted in-between the folds of the fabric width end. One length of cord is inserted ¼ end-width in from the long seam side. The other length of cord is inserted ¼ end-width in from the other long (folded) side.
Both lengths are inserted 2½″ deep: this results in ½″ of each protruding.
A continuous stitch is now sewn from the folded corner of the doubled over fabric, across the entire width of the end with the cords in it (securing the cords) and continuing down the long seam to within 6″ of the end (FIG. 1, ref's 4 & 5). This 6″ slit (FIG. 1, ref's 4 & 5) is designed to allow for easier access of the user's hand into the mitt.
The mitt is then turned inside-out, so that the seam is now inside the mitt and unseen.
Two pieces of water-resistant cord—2½″ each—now protrude from the closed/seamed end of the mitt. Each cord is then individually threaded through a ball-button. The ball-button is then pushed down the cord to 1/4 ″ of the mitt end. The excess cord protruding from each ball-button is then knotted close to the ball-button (FIG. 1, ref. 2) and the excess trimmed, resulting in two securely attached ball-buttons (FIG. 1, ref's 1,2,3).
The opposing mitt would have 2 cord-loops (FIG. 2, ref. 8) inserted into the folded end of the fabric at the same indentations as the ball-buttons of the other mitt. Each loop would have a diameter roughly 1/16″ larger than the diameter of the ball-button, so that each loop can smoothly slide over each ball-button.
A continuous stitch is then sewn across the end with the inserted loops (FIG. 2, ref. 4)—thereby fixing the loops in place—and continuing 12″ down the long side (FIG. 2, ref. 5). The remaining 6″ of the seam that is unsewn (FIG. 4, ref. 6) is designed as a slit to facilitate the entry of a hand into the mitt.
This mitt—referred to as the “loop” mitt—is now turned inside-out—resulting in the stitching being now inside the mitt and unseen. The two cord-loops now protrude from the closed/stitched end of the “loop” mitt.
Another embodiment of this invention would have a thumb slit in the side of each mitt.
Another embodiment of this invention would have a strap handle attached to each open end of the individual mitts.
Another embodiment of this invention would have button holes instead of cord loops at the tip of the “loop mitt”
Another embodiment would have the balls and loops connected at the open end of each mitt.
Other embodiments could employ the full panoply of connectors available in various numbers in order to connect the mitts into a full length.
Another embodiment would allow for the connection of various pads to each mitt.

Claims

1. I claim the addition of connectors at the tips of water-absorbent showering mitts which allow the mitts to be readily and temporarily joined into one length to facilitate back washing/drying.

2. I claim the entirety of the body washing/drying system—composed of two waster-absorbent showering mitts that can be readily and temporarily connected at the tips—as a means of significantly reducing wash load (towels) resulting in significant monetary savings—due to less laundry work, lower consumption of water and lower consumption of energy required to dry towels.

3. I dependently claim the entirety of the aforementioned washing/drying system as a means of significantly lowering the environmental impact of laundry due to the decreased consumption of water and energy and detergent.

4. I dependently claim the entirety of the aforementioned washing/drying system as having a marked improvement in showering safety since it is much more difficult to drop in the shower than previous devices.