US20080083064A1

US20080083064A1 - Splash-guard towel

Info

Publication number: US20080083064A1
Application number: US11/906,598
Authority: US
Inventors: Carla Elizabeth Litwhiler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-10-05
Filing date: 2007-10-03
Publication date: 2008-04-10

Abstract

One embodiment of absorbent or repellant material (3) used to protect the wall or mirror from splashes resulting from individuals washing their face, hands, hair, shaving or brushing their teeth. Said embodiment is trapezoidal in shape and comprised of a removable wirelike apparatus (4) located along the bottom edge and contained within a stitched seam wirelike pocket (1) and (2) designed to mold along the back sink edge behind faucet fixtures. At each top corner of said embodiment is a typical eyelet/grommet apparatus (6) comprised of plastic or metal. Said typical eyelet/grommet (6) attaches to mirror onto typical suction cup hook (5) or typical cup hook. Being hung in said manner; said embodiment is conceived with the intent of preventing splashes from occurring, keeping mirror and sink areas cleaner longer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent No. 60/828,314, filed 2006 Oct. 5, entitled “Splash-Guard Towel”.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a towel specifically designed to prevent splashing of liquids.
Millions of people dread performing common household tasks, such as laundry, dishes and cleaning the surrounding area of a sink, because of the time and energy they consume. In today's fast paced society, few individuals have a great deal of leisure time and even a smaller amount of time for chores. One area of the house that people dread cleaning is the sink and surrounding area. As the sink is used by all members of the household each day for brushing teeth, washing hands, shaving, or doing ones hair and makeup, it tends to get dirty rather quickly.
2. Prior Art
A few types of splash-guard apparatuses have been introduced. Two that provide a means for protecting a bathroom sink and surrounding area fall short of practicality.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,103 to Kliebert (1988) shows a translucent plastic or glass splash guard that sits on countertop, behind sink & over the faucet fixtures. When certain hygienic acts are performed (brushing teeth, washing hands, shaving, etc.) and completed, the faucet and fixtures and areas to the left and right of the sink remain messy. One would have to additionally clean the translucent plastic or glass apparatus separately multiplying the household chores.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,708 to Mulaw (2001) discloses a faucet splash guard that consists of a free standing unit that contains a rear wall, two side walls and shelves. This structure although providing added storage space, is cumbersome and also would require cleaning after sink usage. This does not decrease the amount of household chores, however adds to it.
Other types of splash guard devises have been proposed—for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,762,062 to Barton (1956), U.S. Pat. No. 2,635,253 to Kirvay (1953) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,398 to Trott (2003). Although functional in their own right, do very little to reduce the amount of splashing of liquid-like substances onto vanity, mirror and surrounding sink areas. Therefore, said inventions do little to decrease the frequency of cleanings in those areas. In addition, these devises offer few, if any, alternative uses.

SUMMARY

A new invention, the Splash-Guard Towel, was created for the purpose of keeping the mirror and all surrounding sink areas cleaner for a longer period of time. The Splash-Guard Towel is secured in place behind the sink by being attached to the mirror or the wall. The Splash-Guard Towel captures and absorbs water that splashes while people are washing their hands, washing their face, washing their hair, shaving, brushing their teeth, etc. With the Splash-Guard Towel, cleaning the mirror, countertop, sink fixtures, and surrounding area will be required less frequently.
The Splash-Guard Towel would be marketed to households and businesses worldwide.

DRAWINGS Figure

FIG. 1 shows frontal view of the unique design towel with typical suction cups to place anywhere (wall, mirror, etc.,) and wirelike apparatus pocket enclosure.

FIG. 2 shows detail of absorbent or repellant material and removable wirelike apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows towel corner with typical suction cup with hook and typical eyelet/grommet.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

- 1 wirelike pocket
- 2 stitched seam
- 3 absorbent or repellant material
- 4 removable wirelike apparatus
- 5 typical suction cup with hook
- 6 typical eyelet/grommet

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiment of the Splash-Guard Towel design as illustrated in FIG. 1 calls for textiles, plastic and metal to be utilized as its major components.
The Splash-Guard Towel would be constructed of the best quality materials commonly accepted and used in the manufacturing industry today.
I presently contemplate the main component of the Splash-Guard Towel in FIG. 1 would be an absorbent or repellant material 3 (FIG. 2) such as a terry or cotton cloth fabric. This fabric will be trapezoidal in shape as shown in FIG. 1. I presently contemplate that the dimensions of the towel in FIG. 1 will be 45.72 cm in height, 83.82 cm in width along the bottom edge, and 38.1 cm in width along the top edge. However, other materials and sizes of the Splash Guard Towel are also suitable.
The removable wirelike apparatus 4 (FIG. 2) will be located along the bottom of the Splash-Guard Towel (FIG. 1) in the stitched seam 2 (FIG. 1) wirelike pocket 1 (FIG. 1). I presently contemplate that the removable wirelike apparatus of the embodiment of 4 (FIG. 2) have a circular cross section of 2.053 mm. I presently contemplate that the removable wirelike apparatus 4 (FIG. 2) be selected from available steel or alloys of steel and aluminum. However, other sizes and materials of the wirelike apparatus are also suitable.
The typical eyelet/grommet 6 (FIG. 3) of the embodiment of FIG. 3 are positioned at each of the top corners of the Splash-Guard Towel. I presently contemplate the typical eyelet/grommet 6 (FIG. 3) will be 6.544 mm and comprised of plastic or metal. The Splash-Guard Towel is attached to a mirror by hanging the eyelet/grommet 6 (FIG. 3) on a typical 4.445 cm suction cup hook 5 (FIG. 3). However, other sizes and materials of the typical eyelet/grommet or typical suction cup hook are also suitable.
The production process related to the use of these metals would ensure that they were produced so as to be flexible, non-corrosive, durable and strong. The selected metals should have high impact strength and be able to accept and retain coloring materials for an extended length of time.

Operation—FIGS. 1, 2, 3

The Splash-Guard Towel illustrated in FIG. 1 will protect the wall and mirror from splashes resulting from individuals washing their face, hands, hair, shaving and brushing their teeth. The Splash-Guard Towel will result in the mirror, countertop and surrounding area having to be cleaned less frequently.
The Splash-Guard Towel as illustrated in FIG. 1 hangs from a mirror by placing each top corner plastic eyelet/grommet 6 (FIG. 3) onto the typical suction cup hook 5 (FIG. 3). The eyelet/grommet will be hung from typical suction cup 5 (FIG. 3) allowing the Splash-Guard Towel to be attached to a mirror.
The typical suction cup hook 5 (FIG. 3) will be positioned onto mirror approximately 40.64 cm above sink faucet. Each typical suction cup hook 5 (FIG. 3) will be approximately 36 cm apart from one another.
Once the typical suction cup hooks are 5 (FIG. 3) positioned at the desired height and width, one would place each corner typical eyelet/grommet 6 (FIG. 3) onto the appropriate typical suction cup hook 5 (FIG. 3). One could then reposition the typical suction cup hooks for the desired towel length coverage and draping.
The removable wirelike apparatus 4 (FIG. 2) will be located along the bottom of the Splash-Guard Towel in the stitched seam 2 (FIG. 1) wirelike pocket 1 (FIG. 1). This removable wirelike apparatus 4 (FIG. 2) will allow one to custom fit the bottom of the Splash-Guard Towel around the back and sides of the sink and sink faucet. The wirelike apparatus can be easily removed from the Splash-Guard Towel when the towel is to be laundered.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the reader will see that when the Splash-Guard Towel is secured in place behind the sink and is attached to the mirror or the wall, the Splash-Guard Towel will prevent splashing of liquids onto the mirror or nearby sink area. Furthermore, the Splash-Guard Towel has these additional advantages:

- it captures, absorbs or repels water that splashes while people are washing their hands, washing their face, washing their hair, shaving, brushing their teeth, etc.; hygienic and household
- it requires less frequent cleaning of the mirror, countertop, sink fixtures, and surrounding area;
- it can also be used as a hand towel when needed;
- it can also be used as an utility towel to clean surrounding area.

Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. For example, the Splash-Guard Towel can be manufactured in a variety of colors and materials so as to provide an assortment of aesthetically adaptable designs to consumers; the Splash-Guard Towel could also be made with several pockets that could be used for shaving supplies, toothbrushes, cosmetics, toiletries, etc.; the Splash-Guard Towel could be sold with both typical suction cups and typical wall hooks so that it may be installed wherever the consumer desires; the wirelike apparatus that is to be placed inside the stitched seem or wirelike pocket could be coated in plastic or made of a plastic type material; self-adhesive industry-standard hook & loop fastener strips could be used as an alternative to the suction cups and hooks. The versatility of the Splash-Guard Towel makes it easily adaptable for usage in other locations such as kitchen and utility sinks.

Claims

1. An article of material, comprising a flat body piece of fabric of sufficient size wherein to provide partial coverage of a standard sized bathroom mirror

a. the material of claim 1 wherein said body of material is composed of material wherein to absorb or repel liquid type substances

b. a plurality of eyelets or grommets of equal size positioned on said material from which article of material will hang

c. an elongated flexible apparatus

d. a means for containing elongated flexible apparatus

2. An article of material, comprising a flat body piece of fabric of sufficient size as claimed in claim 1, wherein to provide further coverage and splash protection of a wall area around the sink countertop or surrounding vanity area.

3. An article of material, comprising a flat body piece of fabric of sufficient size as claimed in claim 1, wherein to provide further coverage and splash protection from a typical water faucet.