US20030037394A1

US20030037394A1 - Bath mitt

Info

Publication number: US20030037394A1
Application number: US10/204,682
Authority: US
Inventors: Gregor Kohlruss; Hubert Wiesner; Oliver Griebe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-03
Filing date: 2001-03-02
Publication date: 2003-02-27
Also published as: DK1259147T3; WO2001064091A1; EP1259147B1; DE50113989D1; DE10010138A1; EP1259147A1; ATE395856T1; AU2001250353A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a bath mitt for use in personal hygiene which has an opening on one side for inserting a hand to guide the bath mitt. The edge of the introduction opening is provided with a fixation device, preferably in the form of an elastic loop, so that the bath mitt cannot slide off the user's hand. The fixation device is configured so as to allow the bath mitt to keep its flat shape when being fixated to the user's wrist.

Description

The invention relates to a bath mitt in particular for use in personal hygiene that is formed by two layers of fabric that are connected with each other. The bath mitt has an opening on one side for inserting a hand guiding the bath mitt, and an elastic fixation device associated with the opening for fixing the bath mitt on the hand.

A comparable bath mitt is proposed, for example by DE 93 13 081. In the area of the opening for inserting the hand, the known bath mitt has a variable constriction that adapts itself to the wrist of the user. The aim is to prevent the cleaning mitt in this way from sliding from the hand of the user as it is being used for washing. The variable constriction is preferably realized in this connection by an elastic rubber band that is incorporated in the fabric in the area of the insertion opening of the cleaning mitt.

This known cleaning mitt has a number of drawbacks. When the mitt is not in use, the constriction contracts, so that the cross section of the insertion opening is changed, which leads to the fact that the fabric from which the mitt is made loses its flat shape and throws folds. This causes the cleaning mitt, which is thoroughly wetted after it has been used, to dry only poorly and unevenly. Furthermore, the known mitt cannot be stacked, which results in considerable space requirements for storing it. Moreover, the constriction contracts on the joint of the hand as the mitt is being used, with the disadvantageous result that only a small part of the entire surface area of the fabric can be used for the cleaning process. Owing to the fact that the constriction of the known mitt closely clings to the wrist of the user, the exchange of air or cleaning liquid between the interior of the cleaning mitt and the environment is prevented. It is a known phenomenon that such bath mitts tend to closely cling to the hand of the user, which is often perceived as being unpleasant, on the one hand, and has a negative influence on the cleaning effect on the other hand as well.

Accordingly, the present invention is based on the problem of providing a bath mitt which, while avoiding the drawbacks specified above, cannot slide from the hand while it is being used, and keeps it flat shape, so that an optimal washing effect can be achieved.

This problem is solved in connection with a bath mitt of the type specified above in that the fixation device is elastically deformable independently of the layers of fabric of the bath mitt.

The bath mitt as defined by the invention thus completely dispenses with the constriction as it is known in the prior art. The cross section of the insertion opening is not capable of contracting, with the result that the major part of the drawbacks connected therewith are avoided. In particular, in the area of the insertion opening, the bath mitt as defined by the invention cannot closely cling to the wrist, so that no disadvantageous sealing effect can developed in that area.

A stiffening of the insertion opening advantageously leads to the fact that the bath mitt as defined by the invention can keep its flat shape, from which results optimal use of the washing surface, on the one hand. On the other hand, this favors drying of the thoroughly wetted mitt and it is assured that the mitt can be stacked.

A loop made of elastic ribbon is usefully selected as the fixation device. The circumference of this loop is adapted to the circumference of the wrist of the hand inserted in the bath mitt. Such ribbons are commercially available in the form of rubber bands or rubber-and-fabric bands and can be used in a simple manner for the bath mitt as defined by the invention at low manufacturing costs. The elasticity of the loop assures that the hand of the user can be inserted in the bath mitt without problems, whereupon the bath mitt is safely fixed on the hand and cannot slide off even in the presence of violent washing movements.

It is advantageous if the circumference of the aforementioned loop can be adjusted, so that the bath mitt can be adapted at any time to different users.

It is useful if the loop can be opened and closed by means of suitable closing elements. It may be necessary due to wear to replace the loop made of elastic ribbon after the bath mitt has been used a number of times. However, in particular, it should be possible to completely remove the loop for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the dirty bath mitt.

It is useful to guide the loop made of elastic ribbon through passages located in the edge of the insertion opening of the bath mitt as defined by the invention. In this way, parts of the loop are capable of extending both inside and outside of the edge of the insertion opening. After the elastic loop has been placed around the wrist of the hand inserted in the bath mitt, the bath mitt is safely fixed on the inserted hand.

The passages are usefully arranged spaced from the lateral edges of the bath mitt adjoining the insertion opening. On the one hand, this is necessary so that the bath mitt can be fixed on the inserted hand because the total width of the mitt approximately corresponds with the width of the human hand with spread fingers. The wrist, however, which is engaged by the elastic ribbon for the fixation, is substantially narrower. On the other hand, what is achieved by arranging the passages is that areas in the insertion opening located laterally of the wrist are kept open, so that an exchange can take place through these areas between the interior of the bath mitt and the environment. By making it possible for air to access the interior, the thoroughly wetted mitt is prevented from tightly clinging to the inserted hand. The aforementioned drawbacks connected therewith are effectively eliminated in this way. Furthermore, the lateral openings can be additionally used for flushing the bath mitt as defined by the invention with cleaning liquid from the interior while it is fixed on the hand of the user.

It is particularly advantageous if the two layers of fabric of the bath mitt as defined by the invention consist of different materials. Each material may have a different cleaning effect, whereby it is then possible in a simple manner to achieve the one or other desired cleaning effect by turning the mitt. In particular, it is possible to produce the two layers of fabric from pile material with pile threads having different titers. One layer of fabric can be provided with pile threads with a particularly high titer, so that a highly scouring cleaning effect is obtained for coarse dirt. The other layer of fabric can then be provided with pile threads with a low titer, so that a strong suction effect is obtained for sucking up cleaning liquid.

An alternative possibility for realizing the bath mitt as defined by the invention is available if the elastic fixation device is comprised of at least two elastic ribbons that are sewn to the inner surfaces of the bath mitt with a spacing from the lateral edges, so that the two layers of fabric are connected with each other by the elastic ribbons in the area of the insertion opening. This embodiment of the bath mitt can be produced in a particularly simple manner and, versus the variation described above, offers the advantage that the fixation device is connected with the bath mitt in a fixed way and, other than a loose elastic loop, thus cannot be inadvertently lost.

Exemplified embodiments of the bath mitt as defined by the invention are explained in the following with the help of the drawings, in which: [0015]
FIG. 1 is a view of the insertion opening of a first exemplified embodiment of the bath mitt; [0016]
FIG. 2 is a top view of the bath mitt; [0017]
FIG. 3 shows the insertion opening of a second embodiment of the bath mitt as defined by the invention. [0018]
In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, an upper cleaning fabric layer [0019] 1 and a lower fabric layer 2 are joined with each other along the edges. An insertion opening 3, in which a hand guiding the bath mitt can be inserted, is obtained on one side of the bath mitt. The insertion opening 3 has a stiffened edge 4, by which the bath mitt is kept in its flat shape. In order to prevent the bath mitt from sliding off from the hand of the user, a fixation device in the form of an elastic loop 5 is arranged within the edge 4. The elastic ribbon is guided through the slots 6 located in the stiffened edge 4, so that it partly extends in the inner area and partly in the outer area of the bath mitt. The elastic ribbon can be deformed in this way in its function as a fixation device independently of the fabric layers 1 and 2 of the bath mitt. The edge 4 of the insertion opening always keeps its shape regardless of whether the bath mitt is present on the hand of a user or not. The slots 6 are spaced from the lateral edge of the mitt in such a way that the intermediate space between the sections of the elastic loop extending in the inner area approximately corresponds with the width of a wrist. The shown arrangement of the elastic loop 5 contributes to achieving an optimal washing effect in that the stiffened edge 4 is pulled together while the flat shape of the bath mitt is maintained. On the outer side of the bath mitt, the elastic ribbon 5 is provided with a closing and adjusting element 7, so that the loop can be adapted or removed as required.
FIG. 3 shows a second exemplified embodiment, in which the [0020] elastic fixation device 5 is comprised of two elastic ribbons that are sewn to the fabric layers 1 and 2 in a fixed way, instead of the elastic loop that is only loosely connected with the bath mitt. The elastic ribbons satisfy their function as a fixation device in the present case as well, whereby they are elastically deformable independently of the fabric layers 1 and 2. The elastic ribbons are sewn to the inner surfaces of the fabric layers 1 and 2 with a spacing from the lateral edge of the mitt, whereby the intermediate space between the ribbons extending in the inner area of the insertion opening 3 approximately corresponds with the width of a wrist.

Claims

1. A bath mitt in particular for personal hygiene formed by two fabric layers (1, 2) joined with each other, comprising a unilateral opening (3) for inserting a hand guiding the bath mitt, and a fixation device (5) associated with the opening for fixing the bath mitt on the hand, characterized in that the fixation device (5) is elastically deformable independently of the fabric layers (1, 2) of the bath mitt.

2. The bath mitt according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge (4) of the insertion opening (3) is stiffened.

3. The bath mitt according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixation device (5) is a loop made of elastic ribbon, with the circumference of said loop being adapted to the circumference of the wrist of the hand inserted in the bath mitt.

4. The bath mitt according to claim 3, characterized in that the circumference of the loop is adjustable.

5. The bath mitt according to claim 3, characterized in that the loop can be opened and closed by means of suitable closing elements (7).

6. The bath mitt according to claim 3, characterized in that passages (6) are arranged on the edge (4) of the insertion opening (3), with the elastic ribbon (5) being guided trough said passages.

7. The bath mitt according to claim 6, characterized in that the passages (6) are spaced from the lateral edges of the bath mitt adjoining the insertion opening (3).

8. The bath mitt according to claim 1, characterized in that the two fabric layers (1, 2) consist of different materials.

9. The bath mitt according to claim 8, characterized in that the two fabric layers (1, 2) consist of pile material with pile threads having different titers.

10. The bath mitt according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic fixation device (5) is comprised of at least two elastic ribbons sewn to the inner surfaces of the fabric layers with a spacing from the lateral edges, so that the two fabric layers (1, 2) are joined with each other by the elastic ribbons in the area of the insertion opening (3).