US3629865A

US3629865A - Baby towel

Info

Publication number: US3629865A
Application number: US10524A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sondra Weiner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-02-11
Filing date: 1970-02-11
Publication date: 1971-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-28

Abstract

A towel and apron to be worn when bathing an infant and easily removable for drying. Towels varying in size and shape are partially separated near a corner to form a collar to removably secure in place around the neck with fasteners. The upper corner above the partial separation may be utilized as an auxiliary drying means and pockets may be attached to the main drying portion of the towel for bottles and the like.

Description

United States Patent Sondra Weiner 1400 W. Spruce CL, Milwaukee, Wis. 53217 Feb. 11, 1970 Dec. 28, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented BABY TOWEL 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 2/48 Int. Cl A4ld 13/04 Field of Search 2/49, 46, 48

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1950 Seidenbaum 2,563,420 8/1951 Roe 2/49 R 2,722,685 11/1955 Lucas 2/49 R 2,879,514 3/1959 Shapiro 2/48 Primary ExaminerA. R. Guest Attorney-Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall ABSTRACT: A towel and apron to be worn when bathing an infant and easily removable for drying. Towels varying in size and shape are partially separated near a corner to form a collar to removably secure in place around the neck with fasteners. The upper corner above the partial separation may be utilized as an auxiliary drying means and pockets may be attached to the main drying portion of the towel for bottles and the like.

PATENTEBIRE'BM 3,629,865

INVENTOR. SONDRA WEINER AZZXfipZ Attorneys BABY TOWEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a combination apron and baby towel to be utilized in the process of washing and drying a baby and, particularly, a towel worn as an apron when washing which is easily removable for drying.

Washing and drying a baby has, in the past, been a cumbersome and sometimes dangerous task, particularly when the mother must coordinate lifting the baby from the bath and place a towel about the baby. Removing an infant from a bathinette prior to obtaining a towel permits the mother's clothing to become wet and allows water to randomly splash on adjacent surfaces. Furthermore, if one hand is required to hold or grasp a towel, then only one hand remains to lift and hold the baby, which may be dangerous considering the wet and slippery condition of the baby.

On the other hand, placement of a towel under the mothers chin before lifting the baby from the bathinette is a cumbersome procedure in which the towel may drop and prompt the mother to remove one hand from the baby and attempt to grasp the towel before it reaches the floor, thus endangering the infants safety. If the attempt at catching the towel in midair is unsuccessful, the mother must stoop or bend to obtain the towel or else utilize another towel.

Various wearing apparel have heretofore been made from toweling material, but all present serious drawbacks in being cumbersome and awkward, particularly when they employ binding ropes, flaps or attachments used for fastening, extensions of toweling that are infrequently used, and multiple attachments of hooks, snaps, or similar type fasteners. These additional items require unnecessary time and cost of manufacture, become inconvenient and cumbersome during utilization, and frequently pose difficulties for laundering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a combination apron and drying towel which may be utilized in a baby drying process. A conventional drying towel is partially separated or slit at one of its extremities to form a main drying portion and an auxiliary drying portion forming a collar therebetween. Such a collar may be placed about the neck and secured by Velcro or corresponding type fasteners, as shown by Mestral, U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,235, dated Nov. 21, 1961, which provide simplified attachment and detachment of two elements, one containing a number of closely spaced hooks of flexible, resilient material and the other containing a number of closely spaced loops of flexible, resilient material and engaging each other in face to face relation to secure a connection. The collar may be attached and removed using one hand and employing light pressure. A towel incorporating the subject invention may easily be secured in place by placing the main drying portion against the chest and the auxiliary drying portion behind the neck and applying only minimal pressure in securing a juncture between the two Velcro tabs or other appropriate connectors consistent with this invention.

With the towel secured in place about the neck, the mother has freedom to utilize two hands in lifting and securing the baby from the bathinette, and the likelihood of slippage or other accident resulting from the wet condition of the baby is greatly reduced. The baby may be placed against the mother's chest on the main drying portion of the towel to allow the lower part of the main drying portion to be secured about the baby, thereby facilitating drying while simultaneously keeping the baby warm. The mother may simply remove the towel from about her neck by exerting only minute outward pressure with one hand upon the auxiliary drying portion to separate the fasteners. The auxiliary drying portion is therefore free to dry the babys face and the towel with the baby secured within may be safely transferred to a crib or other suitable surface.

The uniqueness of the present invention is adaptable to conventional towels of various sizes and shapes without requiring pleating or other special forming. Excessive toweling is eliminated since there is no requirement for flaps or extensions. Furthermore, the absence of flaps, extensions, binding ropes, buttons, metal hooks, or the like allow easy laundering with reduced wear and damage to the towel. The use of connectors, such as Velcro fasteners, provide flexibility in allowing adjustable connections for different diameter necks and ease of operation in requiring only minimal pressure in securing and detaching the connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings furnished herewith illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor and clearly disclose the above advantages and features as well as others which will be readily understood from the detailed description thereof.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1. is a plan view of a square towel showing a main drying portion and a partially separated auxiliary drying portion;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. I only employing a triangular drying towel;

FIG 3 is similar to FIG. I only employing a circular drying towel; and

FIG. 4 shows the placement of the towel upon a person and the relationship of the baby thereto.

The drawings illustrate a drying towel 1 made from terrycloth or similar conventional drying material as used with babies. Drying towel 1 has a main drying portion 2 and an auxiliary drying portion 3 partially separated by a cut 4.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a corner 5 formed by two sides 6 and 7 of drying towel I. Cut or separation 4 is formed in side 7 and is perpendicular to a line bisecting corner 5. The initial point of incision 8 is generally made at about 8 to 10 inches from comer 5 along side 7. The depth of incision to point 9 should be greater than one-half of the desired neck circumference in order to allow collar formation. The depth of incision and the initial point of incision are interdependent and vary according to the dimensions and shape of the comer and the desired neck circumference.

Two Velcro tabs 10 and II, as taught by Mestral, U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,235, dated Nov. 21, 1961, are attached to drying towel 1, with tab 10 attached to main drying portion 2 near incision point 8 and tab 11 oppositely attached on the reversed side of auxiliary drying portion 3 near incision point 8, both aligned to correspond with each other making a secure connection when so disposed.

Employment of drying towel l as an apron or protective device as shown in FIG. 4 encompasses placing the main drying portion 2 against the chest I2 with auxiliary drying portion 3 placed behind the neck 13. Drying towel 1 may be secured about neck 13 by compressing tab 11 to tab 10 with light to moderate pressure to make a secure connection to form the completely enclosed collar 14. Velcro

tabs

10 and 11 are sufficiently long to permit variations in collar circumference for flexible use. When towel l is secured in place about neck 13, a baby can be conveniently and safely removed from a bathinette with both hands and placed upon the mother's chest 12 and therefore upon main drying portion 2. With the baby securely held to chest 12 with one hand, the lower part of main drying portion 2 may be placed over the baby's back 15 to dry and provide warmth. The free hand 16 may also detach tab 11 from tab 10 to allow auxiliary drying portion 3 to be removed from collar formation 14 and used to dry the babys face. The baby wrapped within drying towel 1 may then be placed upon a bed or table or as desired to allow changing or further drying.

Pockets 17, as shown in FIG. I, may be employed to store items such as baby bottles, powder containers, and the like for convenient use.

FIG. 2 further illustrates the employment of the subject invention in a triangular shaped towel, and FIG. 3 illustrates the employment of the subject invention in a round or irregularly shaped towel. In the instance of a round towel, cut or separation 4 may be taken on a chord to allow a maximum area for main drying portion 2 while still maintaining sufficient collar size.

The present invention thus provides an inexpensive and easily attachable apron and baby towel which eliminates ex.- cessive toweling, tabs, and hard to manage fastening devices and which is easily adaptable to conventional drying towels. Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims, particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A drying towel for drying an infant, comprising an absorbent sheet having a pair of relative straight converging side edges joined at a corner, said sheet having a slot located adjacent the corner and extending from a first of said side edges toward the second of said side edges and terminating in spaced relation to said second side edge, said slit dividing said sheet into a main drying portion and an auxiliary portion, and fastening means for attaching said main drying portion and said auxiliary portion to form a collar.

2. The towel of claim 1, and including a pocket to receive and hold objects and located adjacent the first side edge and spaced a substantial distance from said slit.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said fastening means comprises a first and a second pressure responsive connector, one of said connectors attached to said main drying portion and the other of said connectors attached to said auxiliary portion, said first and said second connectors being arranged with respect to each other so that when joined they form a collar to enclose the neck.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said first connector includes a number of closely spaced hooks of flexible, resilient material and said second connector includes a number of closely spaced loops of flexible, resilient material and engaged with the hooks when in face to face relation to secure a connection.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said slit is perpendicular to a line bisecting said corner and extends from said one side edge beyond said line,

Claims

1. A drying towel for drying an infant, comprising an absorbent sheet having a pair of relative straight converging side edges joined at a corner, said sheet having a slot located adjacent the corner and extending from a first of said side edges toward the second of said side edges and terminating in spaced relation to said second side edge, said slit dividing said sheet into a main drying portion and an auxiliary portion, and fastening means for attaching said main drying portion and said auxiliary portion to form a collar.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said slit is perpendicular to a line bisecting said corner and extends from said one side edge beyond said line.