US20060010555A1

US20060010555A1 - Wearable sweat towel and garment

Info

Publication number: US20060010555A1
Application number: US10/884,834
Authority: US
Inventors: Kevin Hayes; Jeffery Hayes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-02
Filing date: 2004-07-02
Publication date: 2006-01-19

Abstract

A wearable garment including a front panel and an interconnected rear panel. Each of the panels exhibits a substantially rectangular shape and is constructed of an absorbent material, such as terrycloth or the like. Inter-engaging button and snap fasteners are located in spaced apart fashion along opposing and extending side edges associated with the front and rear panels and to conjoin the front and rear panels together. A hood is constructed of a moisture absorbent material and extends from between the front and rear panels, an aperture being defined within the hood such that it covers a head and neck of a wearer of the garment. In an alternate embodiment, the hood is substituted by a substantially “V” shaped aperture.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a wearable towel garment. More specifically, the present invention teaches a sweat inducing training garment, such as which is wearable by a user underneath a warm-up suit or the like, and which functions to assist in the training and conditioning of the athlete.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The provision of sweat towels and related perspiration removal garments is known in both sporting event and other miscellaneous exercise related industries. The objective of such towels is to facilitate removal of the sweat buildup and perspiration of the individual.
A further example drawn from the prior art is the wearable garment set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,021, issued to Somerville, and which in particular teaches a moisture absorbing garment for use by athletes during playing breaks. The garment exhibits a substantially shirt-like appearance and includes front and rear conjoined panels constructed of a moisture absorbent towel material. The front panel is exhibited as being substantially longer than the rear panel and extends to the thigh of the user.
A shoulder and upper arm section of like moisture absorbent material projects from each side of both the front and rear panels and is generally aligned with the joined top side of the front and rear panels. Adjacent sides of the front and rear panels and upper arm sections open and hang free so that the front panel can be readily used as a towel to wipe the wearer's face. A central head opening in the garment extends through both the joined front and rear panels adjacent to the head opening. A hood of moisture absorbent towel material is attached to the joined front and rear panels adjacent to the head opening.
While providing for effective perspiration reduction during play breaks, the wearable garment of Somerville is not suited for use as a training garment. In particular, Somerville does not teach a sweat inducing and wearable garment which is particularly capable of being worn underneath other garments, such as warm-up jump suit.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention teaches a wearable and sweat inducing garment capable of being worn by a user and which functions both as a sweat removal and a training garment. The wearable garment includes a front panel and an interconnected rear panel. Each of the panels exhibits a substantially rectangular shape, with a fairly identical overall length, and is constructed of an absorbent material, such as terrycloth or the like.
Inter-engaging button and snap fasteners are located in spaced apart fashion along opposing and extending side edges associated with the front and rear panels and are inter-engageably attached to conjoin the front and rear panels together. It is also envisioned that other types of fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners, button and hole fasteners, and the like, can be incorporated into the present invention.
In a preferred application, the garment exhibits an overall shape and size such that, when being worn upon the torso and upper body of the user, the size of the garment permits the wearing of an over-garment, and such as is particularly desirable during training exercises. The garment may further be used as a warm-up suit in a further preferred embodiment.
A hood is constructed of a moisture absorbent material and extends from between the front and rear panels, an aperture being defined within the hood such that it covers a head and neck of a wearer of the garment. In an alternate embodiment, the hood is substituted by a substantially “V” shaped aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
FIG. 1 is an environmental view illustrating the wearable garment according to the present invention and in particular showing the inter-engaging snap portions extending along each of the first and second sides of the front and rear panels;
FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a wearable garment according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention and which in particular illustrates in phantom a pair of hand supporting and inside located pockets;
FIG. 3 is a sectional illustration, in perspective, of an inwardly facing surface associated with the front panel drawn from the embodiment of FIG. 1 and which illustrates a common and elongated extending inside pocket;
FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of an outstretched garment according to the hooded preferred embodiment of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 5 is a likewise perspective illustration of an outstretched garment according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a wearable garment is illustrated at 10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As previously discussed, the present invention provides an improved and sweat-inducing wearable garment, such as in particular which is capable of being underneath a training over-garment (see in phantom at 12 in FIG. 1), and to assist in physical and endurance training associated with athletes and other athletically directed participants.
As is also illustrated in the outstretched perspective view of FIG. 3, when viewed in combination with FIG. 1, the wearable garment 10 is provided as a generally overall rectangular shaped item and which is constructed of a moisture absorbent material such as terrycloth or the like. The garment 10, upon being placed upon a wearer 14, see as shown in FIG. 1, includes a front panel 16 and a substantially equal length and extending rear panel 18 (see as further illustrated by imaginary dividing line 20 in FIG. 4).
A head and neck receiving aperture 22 (see FIG. 4) is defined along the boundary between the front 16 and rear 18 panels. A hooded portion 24 of a likewise moisture absorbent material extends from the front and rear panels, further such that the hood covers a head and neck of a user (again FIG. 1) upon wearing of the garment 10.
Fasteners are located along opposing and extending sides associated with the front 16 and rear 18 panels and are inter-engageable to conjoin the panels together as shown in FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners are provided as snap and button portions 26 and 28 and which inter-engage to conjoin the panels in the manner again shown in FIG. 1. Without limitation, it is also understood that other types of fasteners can be employed along the opposing and extending edges of the panels 16 and 18, these including hook and loop fasteners, button and hole fasteners, and the like.
Each of the front 16 and rear 18 panels include both outwardly and inwardly facing recesses. The front panel 16, in the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, in particular further includes an elongate extending pocket 30 defined upon the inwardly facing surface. The pocket 30 in the preferred embodiment is provided as an additional strip of terrycloth or like material, and which is sewn (see seams 32 and 34 at top and bottom edges of strip) to the facing surface of the front panel 16.
Opposing side edges of the pocket 30 can be tapered, such as at 36 and 38, and in order to facilitate seating of the user's hands, such further being inserted between the front 16 and rear 18 panels and further such as shown in the gap 40 illustrated in FIG. 1. It is also envisioned that the elongated pocket 30 can be sewn or otherwise secured to the opposite outwardly facing surface of the front panel 16. Referring again to FIG. 1, it is further envisioned that an indicia, or logo, design 42 can be imprinted upon a selected surface of the garment 10, and such as is shown placed upon the front panel 16 in FIG. 1.
Referring further to FIGS. 2 and 5, a wearable garment is illustrated at 44 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The garment 44 is largely identical to that illustrated at 10 in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the difference primarily being the shaping of the head and neck receiving aperture, see as defined by inwardly facing edges 46, 48 and 50 and which define an overall “V” neck shape.
An additional feature particular to the garment 44 is the substitution of the elongate hand supporting recess by a pair of spaced apart and individual receiving recess pockets 52 and 54, which are again illustrated as being defined within a corresponding inwardly facing surface associated with a front panel 56 arrayed opposite a conjoined and extending rear panel 58. Although not clearly shown, it is understood that each pocket is sewn along three sides and in order to define a substantially “U” shaped enclosure to seat the hands of the user, such as when running or during other outdoor exercises. As with the elongated recess 30 described in reference to the first preferred embodiment, the pockets 52 and 54 may also be defined upon the outwardly facing surface of the front panel 56.
Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. In particular, and although not illustrated, it is envisioned that the front and rear panels in either embodiment can be reshaped as first and second panels which fold about a side edge associated with a user and which are fastened or otherwise conjoined along a single side edge by button and snap fasteners or the like.

Claims

1. A wearable garment, comprising:

a first panel and an interconnected second panel constructed of an absorbent material;

fasteners located along opposing and extending sides associated with said first and second panels and being inter-engageable to conjoin said panels together; and

a hand supporting recess associated with a selected one of said first and second panels.

2. The wearable garment as described in claim 1, said first panel further comprising a front panel and said second panel a rear panel, said inter-engageable fasteners further comprising button and snap portions located on opposing edge surfaces of said front and rear panels.

3. The wearable garment as described in claim 1, further comprising said front and rear panels being constructed of a terrycloth material.

4. The wearable garment as described in claim 2, said hand supporting recess further comprising an elongate extending pocket defined in a selective facing surface of said front panel.

5. The wearable garment as described in claim 4, said front panel further comprising an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, said elongate extending pocket being defined upon said inwardly facing surface.

6. The wearable garment as described in claim 2, said hand supporting recess further comprising a pair of individual and spaced apart pockets defined in a selective facing surface of said front panel.

7. The wearable garment as described in claim 6, said front panel further comprising an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, said pair of spaced apart pockets being defined upon said inwardly facing surface.

8. The wearable garment as described in claim 1, further comprising a hood constructed of a moisture absorbent material and extending from between said first and second panels, said hood covering a head and neck of a wearer of said garment.

9. The wearable garment as described in claim 1, further comprising a substantially three-dimensional shaped aperture defined along and between said interconnected first and second panels.

10. The wearable garment as described in claim 9, said aperture having a specified shape and size and further comprising a substantially “V” shape.

11. The wearable garment as described in claim 1, further comprising a logo design imprinted upon an exterior facing surface of at least one of said first and second panels.

12. The wearable garment as described in claim 1, further comprising said first and second panels having a generally rectangular shape.

13. The wearable garment as described in claim 1, said garment exhibiting an overall shape and size when worn upon a torso and upper body of a user, said garment permitting wearing of a training over-garment by said user.

14. A wearable garment, comprising:

a front panel and an interconnected rear panel, each of said panels exhibiting a substantially rectangular shape and being constructed of an absorbent material;

inter-engaging button and snap fasteners being located in spaced apart fashion along opposing and extending side edges associated with said front and rear panels and being inter-engageable to conjoin said front and rear panels together; and

a hood constructed of a moisture absorbent material and extending from between said front and rear panels, an aperture defined within said hood such that it covers a head and neck of a wearer of said garment.

15. The wearable garment as described in claim 14, further comprising an elongate extending pocket defined in an inwardly facing surface associated with said front panel and supporting the hands of a user.

16. The wearable garment as described in claim 15, further comprising said front and rear panels each exhibiting a substantially identical overall length.

17. A wearable garment, comprising:

an aperture having a specified shape and size defined between said interconnected front and rear panels and facilitating passage therethrough of a head and neck of a wearer of said garment.

18. The wearable garment as described in claim 17, further comprising a pair of individual and spaced apart pockets defined in an inwardly facing surface associated with said front panel and supporting the hands of a user.

19. The wearable garment as described in claim 17, further comprising said front and rear panels each exhibiting a substantially identical overall length.