FOR PREVENTING TOWEL SLIPPAGE

Related Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/825,427, filed May 20, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] The present disclosure is directed to systems, apparatus and/or devices that prevent towels from slipping off a towel holder, appliance handle, or the like. The systems, apparatus and devices may include a surface that provides a frictional interface between the towel and towel holder.

Background

[0003] It is not uncommon for towels hung on a towel rack or handle of a household appliance, such as an oven or dishwasher, to slip off and fall to the ground. Towels that slip off their holders and fall to the ground are an annoyance for most people, but can also be the source of pain and discomfort to individuals suffering from a physical condition that makes it difficult to regularly bend over and pick up fallen towels. The present invention addresses this problem.

Summary

[0004] In an aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a device for preventing a towel from slipping off of a towel holder. The device is attachable and removable from the towel holder and includes a towel contacting surface and an opposed towel holder contacting surface. The towel contacting surface of the device provides a frictional interface between the towel and towel holder.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the underside of a towel with a portion of the surface having a non-slip material;

[0006] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the front side of the towel of Fig. 1 (which shows the non-slip portion applied to the opposed surface in dashed lines);

[0007] Figure 3 is a front view of a kitchen appliance with a towel made in accordance with the present disclosure hung over the towel holder (e.g., handle) of the appliance; [0008] Figure 4 is a side view of Fig. 3;

[0009] Figure 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a device made in accordance with the present disclosure associated with a towel holder;

[00010] Figure 6 is a towel holder and a device of Fig. 5 with a towei hung over the device;

[00011] Figure 7 is a side view of an embodiment of a device in accordance with the present disclosure with a towel;

[00012] Figure 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of a device in accordance with the present disclosure applied to a towel holder;

[00013] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 8;

[00014] Figure 10 is a side view of an embodiment of the device of Fig. 9 with a plurality of gripping members on the outer surface thereof;

[00015] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of the device in accordance with the present disclosure;

[00016] Figure 12 is an end view of the embodiment of the device of Fig. 11 in use with a towel holder;

[00017] Figure 13 is an end view of the device of Fig. 8 applied to a towel holder and a towel hung over the device; and

[00018] Figure 14 is an end view of the device of Fig. 11 applied to a towel holder and a towel hung over the device.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[00019] As used herein, the term "towel holder" includes, but is not limited to, a towel rod attached to a wall, the handle of an appliance or other unit, such as a drawer or other storage unit. A towei holder may include a rod, either tubular or non-tubular, or other elongated support member, whether located in the kitchen, bathroom, or any other room of a home, business or other facility. Thus, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus, device or system that at least substantially prevents towels, cloths, rags and other articles made of fabric that may be folded and/or hung over a towel holder from slipping off the same. The device or apparatus may be one that is removably associated with the towel holder and/or may include a portion of the towel itself.

[00020] Turning now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a towel made in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure. Towel 10 includes a first end 12 and a second end 14. Towel 10 also includes a first surface 16 and an opposite surface 18. Preferably, at least one surface 18 is made of all fabric, while the opposite surface 16 includes a portion 20 that prevents towel 10 from slipping off a towel holder 22. Portion 20, in one embodiment, may include an insert that is sewn, stitched, or otherwise attached to towel 10. Preferably, portion 20 is made of a non-fabric material (i.e., a material that is different from the woven fabric portion of the towel). Portion 20 provides a frictional interface with the surface of towel holder 22. In one embodiment, the frictional interface may be provided by attaching a material having a selected tackiness or non-slip property. In another embodiment, the frictional interface with holder 22 may be provided with portion 20 having a selected texture, contour or pattern effective to prevent towel slippage.

[00021] As shown in Figs. 1-4, the non-slip portion 20 may preferably be located substantially in the middle and on one surface 16 of towel 10. More preferably, portion 20 may be equally spaced from each end 12 and 14.

Alternatively, portion 20 may be closer to one end than the other end.

[00022] Towel 0 of the type described above may be hung on any, typically elongated, towel holder 22. When used with an oven or other kitchen appliance that generates elevated temperatures, portion 20 may preferably be made of a material that is substantially heat resistant. In one embodiment, the material of portion 20 should be capable of withstanding temperatures typically encountered at the handle of an oven such as, for example, up to about 100°F, 200°F, 300° F, 400° F and up to about 500°F without causing deformation, melting of portion 20, or the release of odors. An example of a suitable material that may be used for portion 20 is silicone and silicone-based materials. Of course, other suitable materials may also be used. As noted above, portion 20 of towel 10 may be patterned, textured, or treated in other ways to provide friction between towel holder 22 and surface 16 of towel 10.

[00023] Figs. 5-12 show another embodiment of an apparatus, device or system for preventing towel slippage. In the embodiments of Figs. 5-12, rather than providing the non-slip surface on the towel directly, towel holder 22 may be temporarily modified to prevent towel slippage. Figs. 5-12 show devices 30, 40, and 50 that are usable (and reusable) with and attachable to and removable from towel holders 22. Device 30, 40 includes a towel contacting surface 36 and a towel holder contacting surface 38. Towel contacting surface 36 may be smooth in appearance or textured but is otherwise made of a material that provides a frictional interface with the towel. As shown, for example, in Fig. 5, device 30 may be a flexible sheet that is, itself, hung over a towel holder 22 in a generally U- shaped profile. Sheet 32 may be made of a suitable material which itself provides the appearance of a smooth (i.e., non-roughened) surface but has a tacky, sticky or non-slip quality, such as the above-identified silicone, rubber or other suitable material that can create a frictional interface with towel 100. Other materials which do not have a smooth finish such as certain foams or fabrics, may also be used. Alternatively, as noted above, sheet 32 may be textured, roughened, dimpled, matte-finished, cross-hatched, with upstanding members extending from towel contacting surface 36 or be otherwise patterned to provide the necessary friction to substantially prevent towel slippage. When used with or near kitchen appliances that generate heat, the material used for device 30 is preferably heat resistant and capable of withstanding temperatures typically encountered at the handle of an oven such as, for example, up to about 100°F, 200°F, 300°F, 400°F and up to 500°F without causing deformation, melting of the device 30, or the release of odors. In addition to being heat resistant, device 30 is preferably waterproof.

[00024] As further shown in Figs. 5-7 and noted above, device 30 may be hung in a U-shape over towel holder 22. Opposing plies or portions of towel holder contacting surface 38 of device 30 may be fastened together, as shown in Figs. 5-7, in any one or more of several ways. For example, as shown in Figs. 5- 6, facing plies or portions may be held together using easy-to-open fasteners 34. Alternatively, facing plies or portions of surface 38 may be held together by other types of commonly used fastening means, such as Velcro® tabs or strips, magnets, tapes and the like. In a further alternative, at least one portion of towel holder contacting surface 38 may itself have a tacky or sticky and/or self-adhesive quality, at least on that portion that is intended to hang below towel holder 22.

This allows plies to remain in contact without the need for separate fasteners. For example, at least a portion of towel holder contacting surface 38 may have an adhesive applied thereon in an amount and of a type that allows for (1) repeated adhesion of the facing portions of towel holder contacting surface 38 and (2) easy peeling apart of the facing portions when the device is removed from towel holder 22. Of course, in another embodiment, opposing piies need not be fastened or held together at all, and may simply hang freely from the towel holder 22.

However, it may be preferable that the plies be held together below holder 22, leaving a gap or space 39 between device 30 and towel 100. By attaching opposing plies or portions of the device 30 together and leaving a gap or space 39 between device 30 and the towel 100, the user will be less likely to grab both device 30 and towel 100.

[00025] Device 30 may have a length that is substantially coincident with the length of a standard kitchen or bathroom cloth or towel or even slightly longer than the length of the towel. Alternatively, device 30 may be shorter in length than the standard cloth or towel, as shown in Fig. 7, such that the user can easily grab an end of the towel 100 without also inadvertently grabbing device 30. Towel 10 may then be hung over device 20.

[00026] An alternative embodiment of a device used to prevent slippage of towels is shown in Figs. 8-10. In this embodiment, device 40 may be provided as a curled, bent, generally cylindrical, or otherwise shaped sleeve member that is applied to towel holder 22. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8-10, device 40 preferably takes on an at least partially cylindrical shape, although other shapes (even those having squared edges) may be used. As shown in Fig. 9, device 40 is provided as a curled, semi-cylindrical member having a first end 42 and a facing end 44. Device 40 may include an inner cavity 47 defined by towel contacting surface 48. Ends 42 and 44 are separated by gap 45, which provides an opening to allow device 40 to be slipped or otherwise mounted onto (and removed from) towel holder 22. Device 40 is sufficiently resilient so that ends 42 and 44 can be pulled apart at gap 45 to allow for easy mounting on and removal from towel holder 22. Device 40 may also include fasteners of the type described above, or other means for holding opposing ends 42 and 44 together, if desired.

[00027] Towel contacting surface 46 of device 40 may be made of a suitable material that provides a frictional interface between towel holder 22 and towel 100. The entire device 40 may be made of a single material, such as silicone or other material that provides the frictional interface. Surface 46 may have a smooth appearance and have a stickiness or tackiness to it, as described in the embodiment above. Alternatively, or in addition, outer surface 46 (i.e., towel contacting surface) may be textured, contoured, dimpled, or otherwise patterned or roughened to provide a frictional interface, as described above in connection with device 30. For example, as shown in Fig. 10, towel contacting surface 46 may include a plurality of dimples, raised surfaces, or other members extending from surface 46.

[00028] As described in the previous embodiments, device 40 should be heat resistant to the temperatures (°F) described above (up to 500°F) without causing deformation, melting of the device 40, or the release of odors. Device 40 is preferably waterproof, washable, easily-removable, repositionable and reusable.

[00029] Figs. 11 and 12 show a further embodiment of a device made in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 11 , device 50 may be made substantially of a solid, resilient and conformable body 52. Body 52 may include a cavity 54 that is defined by towel holder contacting surface 57 and an expandable slit or gap 56 defined by an inner surface of body 52. Inasmuch as the body 52 is made of a material that is conformable, device 50 may be pressed or pushed onto towel holder 22 at expandable gap 56, allowing the deformable inner cavity to conform to the shape of towel holder 22, regardless of the shape. This allows for a tighter and more conforming fit of device 50 to towel holder 22, as shown in Fig. 12, that, if desired, can substantially prevent lateral or axial movement of device 50 relative to towel holder 22. On the other hand, device 50 may be substantially conformable to towel holder 22, but still allow for some movement (both laterally and axially) to allow for repositioning of device 50, if desired. Devices of the type described above may also allow for snap-fit attachment to towel holder 22. Materials suitable for use in this embodiment include foams, rubber, polymeric materials and the like. The apparatus, devices and systems described herein are easily removable from towel holder 22.

Likewise, they are preferably repositionable and reusable and transferable between towel holders of various shapes and sizes. They are compact or compactable, making them easy to store and transport when not in use. As described in the previous embodiments, device 50 should be heat resistant to the temperatures (°F) described above (up to 500° F) without causing deformation, melting of the device 40, or the release of odors. Device 50 is preferably

waterproof, washable, easily-removable, repositionable and reusable.

[00030] As described above in connection with other embodiments, the outer surface or towel contact surface 58 of device 50 may be made of a suitable material that provides a frictional interface between towel 100 and towel holder 22. In that regard, surface 58 may have a mildly sticky or tacky property, or it may be textured, contoured, or otherwise patterned to provide the frictional interface, as generally described above.

Examples

[00031] Without limiting any of the foregoing, the subject matter described herein may be described in one or more devices, apparatus, or systems. For example, a first aspect of the present subject matter includes a device for preventing a towel from slipping off of a towel holder, wherein the device is removable from the towel holder and the device further includes a towel

contacting surface and an opposed towel holder contacting surface. The towel contacting surface provides a frictional interface between the towel and the towel holder.

[00032] A second aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with the first aspect described above wherein the device includes a sheet having a first end and a second end. The sheet is made of a non-fabric material sufficiently flexible to adopt a U-shaped profile over the towel holder. The device is adapted for securing one portion of the opposed towel holder contacting surface to an opposed portion of the towel holder contacting surface.

[00033] A third aspect of the present subject matter includes the device in accordance with any one of the first or second aspects wherein at least the towel contacting surface incudes silicone.

[00034] A fourth aspect of the present subject matter includes a device of any one of the first through third aspects described above wherein the device further includes fasteners in a mating configuration on opposing portions of the towel holder contacting surface.

[00035] A fifth aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through fourth aspects described above wherein the device includes a first end and a second end facing the first end and the ends are separated by a gap.

[00036] A sixth aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through fifth aspects described above wherein the device includes a generally cylindrical sleeve member.

[00037] A seventh aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through sixth aspects described above wherein the device is made of a material that is substantially heat resistant up to approximately 500°F.

[00038] An eighth aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through seventh aspects described above wherein the device includes a member having a resilient body defining an interior cavity that is substantially comformable to a towel holder.

[00039] A ninth aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through eighth aspects wherein the member is substantially prevented from lateral or axial movement along or about the towel holder.

[00040] A tenth aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through ninth aspects described above, wherein the device is adapted for snap-fit attachment to a towel holder.

[00041] An eleventh aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through tenth aspects described above wherein the towel contacting surface includes a textured surface.

[00042] A twelfth aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through eleventh aspects described above, wherein the textured surface comprises a plurality of gripping members on the surface.

[00043] A thirteenth aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through third or fifth through twelfth aspects described above wherein at least one portion of the towel contacting surface includes a peelable adhesive.

[00044] A fourteenth aspect of the present subject matter includes a device in accordance with any one of the first through tenth aspects described above wherein the towel contacting surface includes a smooth appearance and a tacky material.

[00045] A fifteenth aspect of the present subject matter includes the device of any one of the first through eighth aspects and tenth through fourteenth aspects wherein the device is repositionable along the towel holder.

[00046] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modification can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention claimed herein.