US3812849A

US3812849A - Skin conditioning article

Info

Publication number: US3812849A
Application number: US00277365A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Giunta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-08-02
Filing date: 1972-08-02
Publication date: 1974-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-28

Abstract

A skin conditioning article has a springy and pliable body of layers of nylon net fabric with a mesh of about one-eighth inch, more or less. In the illustrated embodiment, the body is elongated and has four layers of fabric gathered at either end to form necks and pleats. The fabric is first doubled upon itself to form a folded end edge. Both sides of the fabric are then doubled over to form a pair of folded side edges and open edges proximate each other at the center of one face of the body. The layers are secured to each other in any suitable manner, as by stitching, proximate each of the opposite ends of the body, and this stitching may also secure ties to the body for gathering the layers and forming the pleats and necks. The open edges of the body layers provide access to a pocket, formed by the folded end edge of the body, for retaining a bar of soap or other suitable article. The skin may be lubricated and the net fabric rubbed over the skin to cleanse and condition the skin.

Description

United States Patent [1 Giunta SKIN CONDITIONING ARTICLE [76] Inventor: Grace G. Giunta, 576 Riviera Dr.,

Hillsborough, Fla. 33606 [22] Filed: Aug. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 277,365

[52] US. Cl. 128/67, 15/222 [51] Int. Cl A6lh 7/00 [58] Field of Search 128/62, 63, 65, 67; 401/6-8; 15/222, 227

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,711,889 1/1973 Jennings 15/227 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,228,894 3/1960 France 15/222 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert F. Ruemeli [i 3,812,849 [451 May 28,1974

[5 7 ABSTRACT A skin conditioning article has a springy and pliable body of layers of nylon net fabric with a mesh of about one-eighth inch, more or less. In the illustrated embodiment, the body is elongated and has four layers of fabric gathered at either end to form necks and pleats. The fabric is first doubled upon itself to form a folded end edge. Both sides of the fabric are then doubled over to form a pair of folded side edges and open edges proximate each other at the center of one face of the body. The layers are secured to each other in any suitable manner, as by stitching, proximate each of the opposite ends of the body, and this stitching may also secure ties to the body for gathering the layers and forming the pleats and necks. The open edges of the body layers provide access to a pocket, formed by the folded end edge of the body, for retaining a bar of soap or other suitable article. The skin may be lubricated and the net fabric rubbed over the skin to cleanse and condition the skin.

22 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures m n mum 28 m4 8L812l849 FIGI SKIN CONDITIONING ARTICLE This invention relates to a skin conditioning article and method and, more particularly, to such an article and method for use in bathing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of articles are well known for use in bathing and conditioning the skin. For example, such articles include various types of brushes, terry wash cloths, cellular plastic sponges, and natural sponges of various types, including the loofa. However, some articles generally tend to become soggy and limp when wet for a short period of time. When they become soggy and limp, they have little, if any, value for thoroughly scrubbing and stimulating the skin. Also, they are generally slow drying, and many are prone to mildew and mold when allowed to remain wet for an extended period of time. Additionally, abrasive massages such as a salt massage, for example, are well known in many spas. Also, mechanical abrasive cleaners, generally in granular or cream form, are well known for cleaning and conditioning the skin.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and useful skin conditioning article. A related object is provision of such an article which is springy and pliable when wet or dry. Another related object is provision of such an article having a body of nylon net fabric, or the like.

Another object is provision of a new and useful article for conditioning the skin, the article having a body of springy and pliable net fabric, with provision for gathering the body to form a neck portion. A related object is provision of a flexible member secured proximate an end of the body for gathering the body together to form the neck. Another related object is provision of .the fabric in the form of an open mesh nylon net, or the like. Another related object is provision of the body having layers secured to each other to form a pocket for holding an article.

A further object is provision of a new and useful skin conditioning article including a flexible body having opposite ends and layers secured to each other along an end edge portion and forming a pocket for receiving an article, and an open edge portion transverse to the secured edge portion for providing access to the pocket, and retaining means proximate the secured edge portion and forming a neck portion inwardly of the secured edge portion for retaining the article in the pocket. A related object is provision of the body in the form of an open mesh fabric and an intermediate portion of the layers between opposite ends of the body being freely movable relative to each other. Still another related object is provision for readily releasing the retaining means to facilitate rinsing and drying of the body and movement of the article into and out of the pocket. A further related object is provision of a second retaining means at an opposite end portion of the body for forming a second neck portion and gathers extending from the neck portion, and the second retaining means being releasable, for rinsing and drying of the body.

Still another object is provision of a new and useful skin conditioning article including an elongated body having opposite end portions and a plurality of fabric layers for receiving soap or the like, the layers being secured to each other and retained in gathers proximate the end portions with intermediate portions of the layers between the end portions freely moveable relative to each other, and the layers being an open mesh fabric which is springy and pliable when wet to facilitate sudsing of soap. A related object is provision of neck portions of the layers and the gathers extending from the neck portions. Still another related object is provision of the fabric folded lengthwise upon itself to form a.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 illustrates a piece of net fabric for forming the body of the skin conditioner;

FIG. 2 illustrates the piece of fabric of FIG. 1, doubled on itself from end to end;

FIG. 3 illustrates the piece of doubled fabric shown in FIG. 2, but doubled on itself from both side edges to complete folding of the body;

FIG. 4 is the face of the completed body opposite the face shown in FIG. 3, with ties attached to complete the skin conditioner;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a single layer of the net fabric;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the skin conditioner ready for use with the ties tightened about the body to form gathers;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the skin conditioner in stretched condition as compared with the relaxed condtion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a bar of soap being inserted into a pocket in one end of the skin conditioner;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the skin conditioner while stretched across the back;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the skin conditioner loosely wadded in one hand; as for use in conditioning the face and body; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternate use of the skin conditioner as a head band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention, in brief, is directed to a skin conditioning article having a body in the form of a plurality of layers of a springy and pliable net fabric. Preferably, the layers are secured in assembly with provision for releasably gathering the layers to form a neck portion of the body and pleats extending from the neck portion. Such a neck may be formed at one or both ends of the body, and preferably the layers are folded from a single piece of net fabric in a manner to form a pocket for holding an article, such as a bar of soap, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, in the illustrated embodiment the skin conditioning article, or skin conditioner 20 (FIGS. 4 and 6ll) has a body 22 formed from an elongated flat piece 24 (FIG. 1) of fabric (FIG. known in the trade as nylon net (including tulle), doubled upon itself from end to end as indicated by the arrow 26 in FIG. 2, to form two layers and a folded end edge 28 transverse to the length of the fabric piece 24. Side edge portions 30 of the folded fabric pieces 24 (FIG. 2) are then each folded in the direction of the arrows 32 (FIG. 3), toward the center of one face of the body 22 so that open edges 34 of the side of the portions 30 layers are proximate each other and a pair of lengthwise extending folded side edges 36 of the body 22 are formed. By way of example, initially the fabric piece 24 may be 18 inches X 72 inches (FIG. 1), so that the finished body when flat (FIGS. 3 and 4) is 9 inches X 36 inches, although these dimensions way be varied as desired.

The fabric is preferably nylon, or the like, which is both resilient or springy and pliable when wet or dry, and having a mesh preferably as shown in FIG. 5 of ap proximately one-sixteenth to one-half inch range. A mesh of 9% inch is preferable for normal use. As illustrated by a comparison of FIGS. 6 and 7, a 36 inch long body 22 will stretch 3 to 4 inches (FIG. 7) with a reasonable pull and will recover to substantially its original length (FIG. 6).

The folded body 22 is preferably held in assembly in any suitable manner, such as stitching 38 (FIG. 4) at spots proximate either end of the body for holding the open edges 34 together and for securing the layers to each other. The stitching 38 may also secure suitable flexible members in the form of ties 40, such as strings or tapes, to the face of the body 22 opposite the open edges 34. These ties 40 are preferably secured to the body 22 intermediate the free ends of the ties so that they may be wrapped around the layers of the body and suitably held in place as by a knot, or the like, to form (FIGS. 6 and 8) necks 42 and gathers in the form of folds or pleats 44 extending generally coextensively from the necks.

With particular reference to FIG. 8, the end fold forms a pocket 46 outward from the stitching 38 and tie 40, for holding an article, such as a bar of soap 48, which becomes slightly embedding in the mesh of the net body. The bar of soap is even more securely retained in the pocket 46 when the layers are gathered by the adjacent tie 40. Either tie 40 may be formed into a loop 50 (FIGS. 6 and 9) for hanging the skin condi tioner from a hook or the like, preferably with the pocket 46 containing a bar of soap 48 at the lower end of the body 22 so that the soap is readily available for use, and when disposed at the bottom end of the conditioner, as shown in FIG. 9, the bar of soap weights the body 22 for more convenient use.

FIG. 9 shows the skin conditioner in use while washing the back. The skin conditioner body 22 may be held taut, as illustrated, or it may be held in relaxed form, as illustrated in FIG. 6, to provide a gentle massage.

FIG.'10 shows the conditioner 20 loosely wadded in one hand, as for massaging the face and arms.

In FIG. 11 an alternate use is illustrated. The conditioner 20 may have the ties 40 released, so that it may be flattened, as shown in FIG. 4, and used as a head band, or with the ties 40 holding the body end portions gathered, as in FIG. 6, the conditioner may be used as a head band as shown in FIG. 11.

After use, the ties 40 may be released so that the body layers may be flattened and thoroughly rinsed of sand or other matter, and hung flat to dry more quickly. Nylon is particularly quick drying.

The net body 22, when rubbed on a bar of soap 48 I causes easy lathering of the soap and a thorough cleansing of the skin and, with or without lather, the net body provides a refreshing abrasive massaging action when rubbed across the skin.

Any suitable lubricant may be used on the skin, such as cream, lotion, lather, or even water, for example. The skin conditioner is effective for removing scales from rough, dry lips when used with a lip salve or other suitable lubricant. The conditioner may be used on the entire body and is sufficiently pliable for cleaning between the toes, within the ears and in all other body crevices. It is particularly effective in cleaning the back of the neck, thus considerably reducing collar stains. As noted previously, the conditioner is quick drying after use, and the bar of soap when retained in the pocket dries more quickly than in a soap dish.

While this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is-therefore not to be limited to such embodiment or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A skin conditioning article comprising, a flexible body having opposite ends and layers secured to each other along an end edge portion and forming a pocket for receiving an article and an open edge portion transverse to the secured edge portion for providing access to the pocket, and retaining means proximate said secured edge portion and forming a neck portion inwardly of said secured edge portion for retaining the article in the pocket.

2. An article as set forth in claim 1 in which the body is an open mesh fabric adapted to receive soap, and intermediate portions of said layers between said end edge portion and opposite end edge portion being freely movable relative to each other to facilitate sudsing of the soap.

I 3. An article as set forth in claim 1 in which the retaining means releasably retains said layers in said neck portion with gathers extending from the neck portion, for releasing the neck portion and gathers to facilitate rinsing and drying of the body and movement of the article into and out of the pocket.

4. An article as set forth in claim 3 in which the receiving means comprises a flexible member secured to said body and releasably encircling said layers.

5. An article as set forth in claim 1 including second retaining means securing said layers to each other at an end portion opposite the first said end portion.

6. An article as set forth in claim 5 in which the second retaining means retains said layers in folds.

7. An article as set forth in claim 6 in which said folds are gathers, and said second retaining means forms a neck portion of said layers.

8. An article as set forth in claim 7 in which both said retaining means form said layers into gathers extending from the associated neck portion and releasably retain the associated neck portion and gathers for releasing the neck portions and gathers to facilitate rinsing and drying of the body.

9. An article as set forth in claim 8 in which said body is elongated between said end portions and included at least three said layers, said secured end portion is a fold in said body, intermediate portions of the layers between the retaining means are freely movable relative to each other and the layers are nylon net having a mesh of approximately one-sixteenth to one-half inch to facilitate sudsing of soap, and the article is a bar of 5 soap.

10. A skin conditioning article comprising, an elongated body having opposite end portions and a plurality of fabric layers for receiving soap or the like, means securing said layers to each other and retaining said layers in gathers at said end portions with intermediate portions of the layers between said end portions freely movable relative to each other, and said layers being an open mesh fabric which is springy and pliable when wet to facilitate sudsing of the soap.

11. An article as set forth in claim in which the securing means at one of said end portions releasably retains the layers in gathers.

12. An article as set forth in claim 11 in which the securing means included means at one of the end portions retaining said layers in a neck portion.

13. An article as set forth in claim 12 in which the retaining means comprises a member encircling said layers and retaining said layers in said neck portion with the associated gathers extending from said neck portron.

14. An article as set forth in claim 13 in which said retaining means releasably retains said layers in said neck portion and said gathers for releasing the neck portion and the gathers to facilitate rinsing and drying of the body.

15. An article as set forth in claim 14 in which the retaining means comprises a flexible member secured to said body and releasably encircling said layers.

16. An article as set forth in claim 15 in which said securing means includes a second said retaining means at the other of said end portions and said fabric is net fabric having a mesh of approximately 1/ l6 to inch.

said end edge portion providing access to said pocket.

18. An article as set forth in claim 17 in which the retaining means is at the last said end portion inwardly of said end edge portion for retaining the article in said pocket.

19. An article as set forth in claim 18 in which the retaining means comprises a member encircling said layers and retaining said layers in said gathers extending from said neck portion.

20. An article as set forth in claim 19 in which said retaining means releasably retains said layers in said neck portion and said gathers for releasing the neck portion and the gathers to facilitate rinsing and drying of the body.

21. An article as set forth in claim 20 in which the retaining means comprises a flexible member secured to said body and releasably encircling said layers.

22. An article as set forth in claim 21 in which said body included at least three said layers, and said fabric is nylon net having a mesh of approximately 1/16 to V2 inch.

Claims

3. An article as set forth in claim 1 in which the retaining means releasably retains said layers in said neck portion with gathers extending from the neck portion, for releasing the neck portion and gathers to facilitate rinsing and drying of the body and movement of the article into and out of the pocket.

9. An article as set forth in claim 8 in which said body is elongated between said end portions and included at least three said layers, said secured end portion is a fold in said body, intermediate portions of the layers between the retaining means are freely movable relative to each other and the layers are nylon net having a mesh of approximately one-sixteenth to one-half inch to facilitate sudsing of soap, and the article is a bar of soap.

11. An article as set forth in claim 10 in which the securing means at one of said end portions releasably retains the layers in gathers.

13. An article as set forth in claim 12 in which the retaining means comprises a member encircling said layers and retaining said layers in said neck portion with the associated gathers extending from said neck portion.

16. An article as set forth in claim 15 in which said securing means includes a second said retaining means at the other of said end portions and said fabric is net fabric having a mesh of approximately 1/16 to 1/2 inch.

17. An article as set forth in claim 10 in which said fabric is folded lengthwise upon itself to form a folded end edge portion transverse to the length of the fabric at one of said end portion, and said end edge portion and said layers forming a pocket for receiving an article with an open edge portion of the layers transverse to said end edge portion providing access to said pocket.

22. An article as set forth in claim 21 in which said body included at least three said layers, and said fabric is nylon net having a mesh of approximately 1/16 to 1/2 inch.