US20150208878A1

US20150208878A1 - Wide mouthed towel rack

Info

Publication number: US20150208878A1
Application number: US14/165,718
Authority: US
Inventors: Martha-Lynn Fazio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-28
Filing date: 2014-01-28
Publication date: 2015-07-30

Abstract

A towel rack with a semi-circle body is provided. The semi circle body may include a first end, a second end, a top rim, a bottom rim, a front face and a rear face. The first end and the second end are attachable to a surface. The height (h) of the front face and the rear face is substantially larger than the width (w) of the top rim and the bottom rim.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a towel rack and, more particularly, to a wide mouth towel rack having a semi-circle shape.
Hanging a kitchen towel on a rack with one hand is a difficult task. Whether due to disability, or holding a baby or just having your hands full, trying to get a kitchen towel to hang over an ordinary rack takes two hands. Most kitchen towel racks have a smaller space between the rack and the surface on which it is mounted, making it difficult to place a towel to hang on it with one hand. In addition, the weight of wet towels can overload a towel rack that is either made of insufficiently strong material or is not mounted with enough strength.
As can be seen, there is a need for a strong device that allows a user to place a towel on a towel rack with one hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a towel rack comprises: a semi-circle body comprising a first end and a second end, a front face, a rear face, a top rim, and a bottom rim, wherein the first end and the second end are attachable to a surface, and wherein a height of the front face and the rear face is substantially larger than a width of the top rim and the bottom rim.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The present invention includes a semi-circular, wide mouthed kitchen towel rack. Due to the larger space between the rack and the wall or cabinet door, a towel can be hung on the rack easily with just one hand. The present invention includes a large distance between the rack itself and whatever surfaces the rack is attached to, making it simple to hang a towel on it with one hand.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention may include towel rack with a semi-circle body 10. The semi circle body 10 may include a first end 26, a second end 26, a top rim 24, a bottom rim 24, a front face 22 and a rear face 22. The first end 26 and the second end 26 are attachable to a surface 16. The height (h) of the front face 22 and the rear face 22 is substantially larger than the width (w) of the top rim 24 and the bottom rim 24. The semi-circular shape forms a large opening, having a distance (d) between the body 10 and the surface 16 in the range of about 5 to about 8 inches for a typical kitchen towel-type application, with the thinner width, which allows a user to easily place a towel 18 on the rack with one hand.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a first flange 20 extending from the first end 26 and a second flange 20 extending from the second end 26. In certain embodiments, the first flange 20 and the second flange 20 meet with the first end 26 and the second end 26 at a substantially right angle. The first flange 26 may include a first opening 28 and the second flange 26 may include a second opening 28.
In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a first fastener 12 and a second fastener 12 formed to fit through the first and second openings 28. The fasteners 12 may include bolts, screws or the like. In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a first spacer 14 and a second spacer 14. The first and second spacers 14 may be oriented between the first and second flanges 20 and the surface 16. The fasteners 12 may be driven through the openings 28 in the flanges 20, through the spacers 14, and through the surface 16 to attach the semi circle body 10 to the surface 16.
The spacers 14 may be cushions that protect the surface 16 to which the rack is mounted. The rubber spacers keep the metal ends 20 of the rack from damaging the surface 16 as well as adding to the depth of the opening through which the towel 18 is hung. As mentioned above, the fasteners 12 may include screws that fasten the device to a flat surface 16 such as a wall or cabinet door. The semi-circle body 10 of the present invention holds the towel 18. The rack suspends the towel 18, allowing it to dry effectively and allowing it to be both more accessible to take down and easier to hang.
The particular screws used are optional depending on what type of surface the rack will be mounted onto and the finished size of the rack, which impacts the amount of weight the rack is expected to hold. For example, for the back of a cabinet door, short screws may be used in order to prevent the screw tips from protruding through the opposite side of the door. For mounting on a wall, longer screws or bolts may be used.
A method of making the present invention may include the following. Take a strip of metal (e.g., aluminum) or plastic, any length, about ¾ inch wide by about ⅛ inch thick. Bend it into a semi-circular “C” shape so that the diameter of the semi-circle is about ⅓ of the total length of the metal strip, and then bend the last ¾ inch of each end back so that the ends are parallel to each other and can be placed flat against a flat surface. Drill holes in these two ends to accommodate the screws. Place the screws into the holes, and slide the spacers down onto the screw shafts. The unit is now ready to be mounted and used. A method of using the present invention may include the following. One would mount the rack in a convenient place in the kitchen, such as on the inside of the cabinet door under the sink. The towel is then easily hung and easily removed in a convenient place.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A towel rack comprising:

a semi-circle body comprising a first end and a second end, a front face, a rear face, a top rim, and a bottom rim,

wherein the first end and the second end are attachable to a surface, and wherein a height of the front face and the rear face is substantially larger than a width of the top rim and the bottom rim.

2. The towel rack of claim 1, further comprising a first flange extending from the first end and a second flange extending from the second end.

3. The towel rack of claim 2, wherein the first flange and the second flange meet with the first end and the second end at a substantially right angle.

4. The towel rack of claim 2, wherein the first flange comprises a first opening and the second flange comprises a second opening.

5. The towel rack of claim 4, further comprising a first fastener formed to fit through the first opening, and a second fastener formed to fit through the second opening.

6. The towel rack of claim 5, further comprising a first spacer and a second spacer, wherein the first spacer is oriented between the first flange and the surface and the second spacer is oriented between the second flange and the surface, wherein the first fastener is driven through the first opening, the first spacer, and the surface and the second fastener is driven through the second opening, the second spacer and the surface.

7. The towel rack of claim 1, wherein the semi-circle body is at least a half of a circle.

8. The towel rack of claim 1, wherein the distance between the semi circle and the surface is at least in a range of about 5 to about 8 inches.