US20030014824A1

US20030014824A1 - Two-part bathing tool

Info

Publication number: US20030014824A1
Application number: US09/907,323
Authority: US
Inventors: Monica Farmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-17
Filing date: 2001-07-17
Publication date: 2003-01-23

Abstract

A specialized bathing tool comprised generally of two layers, wherein one layer is comprised of cloth and the second layer is comprised of netting, for utilization during the bathing process for the combined purpose of cleansing and exfoliating the body in order to enable the bather to accomplish efficient bathing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to bathing tools and, more specifically to a two-part bathing tool for use while bathing, cleansing, and exfoliating, wherein one side comprises cloth material, and the other side comprises attached netting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common practice for an individual to use a bathing tool of some sort while bathing or cleansing to aid in the lathering, and spreading of soap throughout the body. Bathing tools often used may include, washcloths, sponges, and/or balls of netting. These tools may separately be helpful in the bathing process, but to achieve cleansing and exfoliating in the bathing process more than one of the above-mentioned tools must be used.

Each of the aforementioned tools or devices is inherently inefficient and thus disadvantageous, wherein the prior-art tools do not combine several materials to give the bather more cleansing options with a single tool.

One example of a disadvantageous bathing tool can be found by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,061 to Hanazono et al, wherein an 8-shaped sponge consisting of two looped holes for maneuvering and attaching to other bathing tools is disclosed. The 8-shaped sponge is comprised of only sponge material to provide cleansing, but does not have any exfoliating material. Therefore, additional devices would need to be utilized in order to cleanse and exfoliate. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,727 to Chen, wherein a ball of multi-layered, ruffled netting used to produce more lather to aid in the bathing process is disclosed. However, in light of the present invention, the Chen patent is inefficient because it is only able to exfoliate but does not have material to cleanse without exfoliation. Therefore, each of the above-mentioned tools cannot be simultaneously used as a washcloth and as an exfoliating tool.

Additionally, each of the above-mentioned tools cannot be simultaneously utilized with bar soap and liquid soap. Also, the use of many bathing tools to cleanse and exfoliate causes clutter to accumulate in the shower space and is thus disadvantageous.

Therefore, it is readily apparent that there is a need for a bathing tool apparatus able to cleanse and exfoliate simultaneously through a combination of cloth and netting, thus preventing the above-discussed disadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages, and meets the recognized need for such a device, by providing a bathing tool enabling efficient cleansing and exfoliating, wherein one side is comprised of cloth and the other side is comprised of netting.

According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention is a specialized bathing tool generally having two layers, wherein one layer has cloth and the other layer has netting, thereby enabling a bather to efficiently cleanse and exfoliate during the bathing process.

More specifically, the present invention is preferably a rectangular-shaped, two-layered object. The first layer is preferably formed from cloth material to create a soft, but textured area. The first layer is utilized for a softer cleansing of the body.

The second layer is preferably formed from netting, wherein the netting has layers spaced-apart forming variable patterns. This netting layer is preferably sewn to the cloth layer. The purpose of the netting layer is to provide the bather with a more rough and thus exfoliating cleansing of the body. However, one skilled in the art would readily recognize based on the present disclosure that alternative materials could be utilized to provide the same function for each of these layers, such as, for exemplary purposes only, sponge material.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to provide a combination of cloth material for cleansing and netting material for exfoliating.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to enable a bather to bathe efficiently, both cleansing and exfoliating, through the use of one bathing tool.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to provide one bathing tool wherein a bather can save space within the shower and/or bathtub.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to enable the bather to use both bar soap and liquid soap within one tool depending upon the bather's desires.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is the ability of such a device to be placed on a towel drying rack wherein the twopart bathing tool can efficiently dry.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the Preferred and Alternate Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which: [0017]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-part bathing tool apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0018]
FIG. 2 is a plane view of a first layer of the two-part bathing apparatus of FIG. 1. [0019]
FIG. 3 is a plane view of a second layer of the two-part bathing apparatus of FIG. 1. [0020]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a two-part bathing tool apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of FIG. 1, showing each side Comprising first layer and second layer. [0021]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a two-part bathing tool apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a dimensioned interior for receiving a hand. [0022]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a two-part bathing tool apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a handle for hanging. [0023]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a two-part bathing tool apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of FIG. 1, showing first layer and second layer being detachable.[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

In describing the preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in the figures and/or described herein, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. [0025]
Referring now to FIG. 1, the present invention is preferably a two-[0026] part bathing device 10 generally comprising first layer 20 and second layer 30. Preferably, first layer 20 is defined by a plurality of raised portions 22, wherein raised portions 22 are preferably minute cloth clusters. Although raised, minute cloth clusters are preferred, any preferable cloth material may be utilized. Raised portions 22 of first layer 20, are best seen in FIG. 2. One skilled in the art would readily recognize based on the present disclosure that while the preferred embodiment of first layer 20 is rectangular in shape, other shapes could be utilized.
Preferably, [0027] second layer 30 is defined by a netting material 32, wherein netting material 32 is formed to have spaced-apart and variable patterns, as best seen in FIG. 3. Netting material 32 is preferably material said to form known exfoliating sponges. As shown in FIG. 1, second layer 30 is preferably sewn 34 to first layer 20. As mentioned above, one skilled in the art would readily recognize based on the present disclosure that while the preferred embodiment of second layer 30 is rectangular in shape, other shapes could be utilized.
[0028] First layer 20 is preferably a cotton blend material facilitating the soft, cleansing process of bathing. However, one skilled in the art would readily recognize based on the present disclosure that alternative materials could be utilized such as, for exemplary purposes only, terry cloth, synthetic fibers, and other known materials. Preferably, second layer 30 is a synthetic netting material. However, one skilled in the art would readily recognize based on the present disclosure that other materials, such as, for exemplary purposes only, natural materials and other known materials that are suitably netted or textured to perform the same function may be utilized.
In an alternate embodiment, the two-[0029] part bathing device 10 could be formed such that each side comprises both first layer 20 and second layer 30, as shown in FIG. 4, or alternatively each side comprises of any combination, size, or shape of first layer 20 and second layer 30.
In an alternate embodiment, [0030] first layer 20 and second layer 30 could be formed such that one end is open and the interior thereof is dimensioned for receiving a hand to allow two-part bathing tool 10 to be easily maneuvered, as shown in FIG. 5.
In an alternate embodiment, the two-[0031] part bathing device 10 could have a handle attached thereto for allowing it to be hung, as shown in FIG. 6.
In an alternate embodiment, the two-[0032] part bathing device 10 could have first layer 20 and second layer 30 attached by hook-and-loop fastener or adhesive to allow first layer 20 and second layer 30 to be detachable, as shown in FIG. 7.
In use of the preferred embodiment, two-[0033] part bathing device 10 aids bathers in efficient bathing by providing both cleansing and exfoliating processes within one bathing tool. The bather can use first layer 20, preferably cloth, in order to cleanse without exfoliation. Additionally, the bather can use second layer 30, preferably netting, to exfoliate during the bathing process. The bather, by utilizing first layer 20 and second layer 30 of two-part bathing tool 10, is able to cleanse and exfoliate just by flipping over the tool and switching sides.
Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims. [0034]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A bathing device, comprising:

at least a first layer; and

at least a second layer, wherein said first layer is carried by said second layer.

2. The bathing device of claim 1, wherein said first layer is cloth material.

3. The bathing device of claim 1, wherein said second layer is netting material.

4. The bathing device of claim 1, wherein said first layer and said second layer are attached.

5. The bathing device of claim 4, wherein said first layer is sewn to said second layer.

6. The bathing device of claim 4, wherein said first layer and said second layer are sewn together to form an interior space dimensioned for receiving a hand.

7. The bathing device of claim 4, wherein said first layer and said second layer are removably attached.

8. The bathing device of claim 1, wherein said bathing device is further defined by having a first side and a second side, wherein said first side and said second side comprise said first layer and said second layer.

9. The bathing device of claim 1, wherein said bathing device is rectangular shaped.

10. The bathing device of claim 1, further comprising a handle carried thereon for hanging said bathing device.

11. A bathing device, comprising:

at least a first cloth layer; and

at least a second netting layer, wherein said first cloth layer is carried by said second netting layer.

12. The bathing device of claim 11, wherein said first cloth layer and said second netting layer are attached.

13. The bathing device of claim 12, wherein said first cloth layer is sewn to said second netting layer.

14. The bathing device of claim 12, wherein said first cloth layer and said second netting layer are sewn together to form an interior space dimensioned for receiving a hand.

15. The bathing device of claim 12, wherein said first cloth layer and said second netting layer are removably attached.

16. The bathing device of claim 11, wherein said bathing device is further defined by having a first side and a second side, wherein at least said first side comprises said first cloth layer and said second netting layer.

17. The bathing device of claim 11, wherein said bathing device is rectangular shaped.

18. The bathing device of claim 11, further comprising a handle carried thereon for hanging said bathing device.

19. A bathing device, comprising:

at least a first cloth layer; and

at least a second netting layer, wherein said first cloth layer and said second netting layer are attached in a rectangular shape.

20. The bathing device of claim 19, further comprising a handle carried thereon for hanging said bathing device.