AU2001100413A4 - Multi-textured towel - Google Patents

Description

26/09 '01 WED 17:37 FAX 61 2 99576288 GR1:FITH HACK 61 2 99576288

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant: INVESTMENT MARKETING CONSORTIUM PTY LTD Invention Title: MULTI-TEXTURED TOWEL The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 004 RECEIVED TIME 26. SEP. 17:36 PRINT TIME 27. SEP. 9:43 26/09 '01 WED 17:37 FAX 61 2 99576288 GRAIFITH HACK 005 61 2 99576288 2 MULTI-TEXTURED

TOWEL

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to printing onto absorbent substrates and in particular full colour printing onto synthetic chamois cloths.

Background of the Invention Chamois leather has long been known for its absorbent qualities and suitability for removing beaded water drops from freshly washed automobiles and the like. More recently synthetic chamois cloths have been developed in order to provide a cheaper alternative to the genuine leather product. Typically, synthetic chamois has a polyester core layer sandwiched between two latex layers.

To simulate the look of the genuine leather product the latex is coloured tan.

Manufacturers have attempted to print promotional material on synthetic chamois similar to the printing provided on other cloth products. Unfortunately, printing full colour images onto synthetic chamois cloths has proven to be difficult. During a standard screen printing process, each different colour is sequentially printed onto the substrate. It is crucial when printing each subsequent colour, that the areas to receive that colour stay "in registration" with the previously printed colour.

The registration of the printing refers to the relative positioning of each different colour in the printed image.

Obviously if the printing falls out of registration, the image quality suffers as areas of different colour begin to overlap and/or gaps between areas of colour start to appear.

In addition to the registration problems, the print clarity is poor because of an inability to faithfully RECEIVED TIME 26. SEP. 17:36 PRINT TIME 27. SEP. 9:43 26/09 '01 WED 17:37 FAX 61 2 99576288 GRIFITH HACK 61 2 99576288 3 reproduce the colours on the synthetic chamois.

Furthermore, there are longevity problems whereby it is difficult to keep the printed inks within the chamois cloth.

A full colour printable absorbent substrate is well suited to any of the existing applications for synthetic chamois cloths, but it may also be suitable for applications that have traditionally used other types of towelling fabric. However, there may be some market reluctance to adopt a synthetic chamois where there is a strong familiarity and level of comfort with the use of the traditional towelling. This is particularly true of golf towels carried in a golf bag for cleaning the heads of the clubs or wiping sweat from the club handles or a player's hands.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a multi-textured towel including: a first portion made from an absorbent substrate and at least one other portion made from a material having a different texture; wherein the absorbent substrate has a core layer of absorbent synthetic material with an upper layer of latex material on one side of the core layer.

In a preferred aspect, the absorbent substrate is suitable for full colour printing, and the latex material is produced without the addition of a colouring agent.

Preferably a lower layer of latex material is formed beneath the core layer. In a further preferred form the 12006 RECEIVED TIME 26, SEP. 17:36 PRINT TIME 27, SEP, 9:43 26/09 '01 WED 17:38 FAX 61 2 99576288 GR13FITH HACK 61 2 99576288 4substrate is not subjected to significant stretching during production.

In one particularly preferred form the core layer makes up at least 30% of the substrate. It is also preferable if the upper layer makes up a maximum of 25% of the substrate.

In a further preferred aspect, the substrate is a synthetic chamois.

In a particularly preferred form, the other portion is made of normal towelling fabric of the type traditionally used for golf towels. In one commercial aspect of this form, the fabric towelling portion and the synthetic chamois portion are rectangular and joined together at a respective short edge of each portion. Preferably, an eyelet is provided the joined short edges of each portion for receiving means to hang the towel from a golf bag.

The present invention uses a towel having a portion that is made from a fabric that has been traditionally used for the towels intended purpose, as well as a synthetic absorbent substrate for improved moisture absorbing ability. This is particularly suited to products such as golf towels where there is a strong familiarity and market acceptance for cotton towelling but synthetic chamois would more readily absorb moisture or sweat from the club heads, handles or the hands of the golfer.

Experience shows that the golf product market is highly brand conscious. Therefore, the ability to print full colour images onto the synthetic chamois is a highly desirable feature.

This embodiment of the present invention is predicated on the surprising realisation that a synthetic chamois with at least the upper layer formed from latex that has @007 RECEIVED TIME 26, SEP, 17:36 PRINT TIME 27, SEP, 9:43 26/09 '01 WED 17:38 FAX 61 2 99576288 GR1AFITH HACK 61 2 99576288 been produced without any colouring agent provides significantly better image clarity. Furthermore it has been found that the problems due to lack of accurate registration when printing on synthetic chamois arise because of shrinkage of the chamois cloth during the printing process. By eliminating the stretching of the substrate during production the shrinkage problem is addressed during the printing stage. Of course this increases the cost per square metre to produce the substrate however this is more than outweighed by the benefits provided at the printing stage as well as the increased absorbent qualities of the unstretched polyester core.

The longevity of the printed images has been dramatically improved by using a relatively thinner upper latex layer. The thinner latex layer allows the inks to easily penetrate through to the polyester layer.

Accordingly the inks permeate through the majority of the substrate and thereby remain fixed in the synthetic chamois for the life of the product.

Absorbent substrates according to this embodiment of the present invention are suitable to conventional screen printing processes or any process wherein the different inks are sublimated into the cloth sequentially.

The present invention has been described herein by way of example only and skilled workers in this field will readily recognise many variations and modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the broad inventive concept.

For illustrative purposes only an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:oo008 RECEIVED TIME 26. SEP. 17:36 PRINT TIME 27, SEP, 9:43 26/09 '01 WED 17:38 FAX 61 2 99576288 GR17FITH HACK 61 2 99576288 6 Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation on a large scale of a golf towel embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a front elevation of the golf towel.

The golf towel comprises a towelling layer and an artificial chammy layer 11 which has a latex type surface coating 12 and a main absorbent body portion 13. In the preferred embodiment, the latex layer 12 is of white material and is thus highly receptive to high quality full colour printing of selected graphics or designs such as that shown conceptionally in Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 1, the upper portion 14 of the towelling layer is folded over the top of the chammy layer 11 and secured with stitching 15 to produce a composite product.

This embodiment of the invention is adapted to be attached to a golf bag by a loop or clip 16 such as that shown schematically in Figure 1.

Thus, a golfer has a chammy which is particularly suitable for absorbing moisture and dirt and for cleaning golf balls and golf grips, thereby leaving the adjacent towel conveniently hanging from the bag and available for the golfer to wipe his or her hands. The towel thus is suspended in air and can dry and provide a desirable texture to facilitate the golfer drying his or her hands.

Dirt and moisture from the clubs, grips or the golf ball can thus be absorbed by the chammy which can readily be washed out yet, the absorption characteristics of the chammy prevent soiling and moistening of the towel to a substantial extent.

Thus, the combination of the present invention presents for the first time to a golfer, a useful combination of features to facilitate the playing of the game of golf.

@009 RECEIVED TIME 26. SEP. 17:36 PRINT TIME 27- SEP. 9:43 26/09 '01 WED 17:39 FAX 61 2 99576288 GR147FITH HACK 61 2 99576288 -7- Embodirnente of the invention are equally applicable to analogous applications.

I1j010 RECEIVED TIME 26. SEP. 17:36 PITTM 7 E. 94 PRINT TIME 27-SEP. 9:43

Claims (11)

1. A multi-textured towel including: a first portion made from an absorbent substrate and at least one other portion made from a material having a different texture; wherein the absorbent substrate has a core layer of absorbent synthetic material with an upper layer of latex material on one side of the core layer.

2. A multi-textured towel according to claim 1 wherein the absorbent substrate is suitable for full colour printing, and the latex material is produced without the addition of a colouring agent.

3. A multi-textured towel according to claim 2 wherein a lower layer of latex material is formed beneath the core layer.

4. A multi-textured towel according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the substrate is not subjected to significant stretching during production.

5. A multi-textured towel according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the core layer makes up at least 30% of the substrate.

6. A multi-textured towel according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the upper layer makes up a maximum of of the substrate.

7. A multi-textured towel according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the substrate is a synthetic chamois.

8. A multi-textured towel according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the other portion is made of normal towelling fabric of the type traditionally used for golf towels.

9. A multi-textured towel according to claim 8 wherein the fabric towelling portion and the synthetic chamois RECEIVED TIME 26. SEP. 17:36 PRINT TIME 27. SEP. 9:43 26/09 '01 WED 17:40 FAX 61 2 99576288 GR17FITH HACK 61 2 99576288 9 portion are rectangular and joined together at a respective short edge of each portion.

A multi-textured towel according to claim 9 wherein an eyelet is provided the joined short edges of each portion for receiving means to hang the towel from a golf bag.

11. A multi-textured towel substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention. Dated this 26th day of September 2001 INVESTMENT MARKETING CONSORTIUM PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK o 012 RECEIVED TIME 26. SEP. 17:36 PRINT TIME 27. SE P. 9:42