US20140215687A1 - Exercise accessory - Google Patents

Abstract

An exercise accessory, such as a towel or scarf, includes a fabric article having a length and a width and at least one slot formed through the article. An edge of the fabric article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user's body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/760,513, filed Feb. 4, 2013, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/823,751, filed May 15, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
• The present invention relates to a towel or scarf accessory for exercise, particularly for use during or after performing Yoga, Pilates, weightlifting, running and other perspiration-causing exercises.
• Certain types of exercises, such as Yoga, are performed in hot and humid conditions which cause a significant amount of perspiration to drip from the body. Other exercise activities also result in significant perspiration. Towels and scarves are frequently used during or following such exercises to wipe perspiration from a user's body.
• Many users keep a towel or scarf around their necks or other parts of the body during exercise in order to help remain cool and absorb perspiration. However, such conventional exercise towels and scarves often fall out of place during exercise. Falling or slipping towels or scarves distract the user during exercise and hinder the user's body from properly cooling down.
SUMMARY
• In one embodiment, an exercise accessory comprises a layer or article (hereinafter collectively referred to as an “article”) having a length and a width, and at least one slot formed through the article. An edge of the article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user's body.
• In another embodiment, an exercise accessory comprises an article having a length and a width, and at least one slot formed through the article. The article includes a sweat-absorbing material that cools upon application and evaporation of water. An edge of the article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user's body. A high-friction material is disposed along a portion of the slot.
• In another embodiment, a method of cooling off during or after an exercise comprises placing an exercise accessory, including an article and a slot formed in the article, around a part of a user's body, and inserting at least a portion of an edge of the article through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to the part of the user's body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of a front side of an exemplary towel embodying the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of a rear side of the exemplary towel ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a view of the exemplary towel ofFIG. 1 worn on a user.
• FIG. 4 is a view of the user performing an exercise with the exemplary towel ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 5 is a plan view of a front side of an alternative embodiment of an exemplary towel embodying the invention
• FIG. 6 is a view of the user performing an exercise with the exemplary towel ofFIG. 5.
• Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exercise accessory in the form of atowel10 including afront side20, aback side30 opposite thefront side20, alength11, and awidth12. Although the term “towel” is used herein, the present invention is applicable to other types of articles, including, but not limited to, a scarf, handkerchief, shawl, or bandana. The illustratedtowel10 may have alength11 equal approximately to an elbow-to-elbow length of an exerciser. Anexemplary length11 is four feet and anexemplary width12 is one foot. However, thetowel10 may have other lengths and widths as appropriate for various sizes of exercisers or other applications. Thetowel10 may have substantially any suitable thickness, weave, knap length, or color.
• Thetowel10 can be made from a variety of materials or fabrics including cotton, acrylic, and various synthetic blends. However, in a preferred embodiment, thetowel10 is made from materials which allow the towel to become cold upon application and evaporation of water. Thetowel10 may include a strap (not shown) to facilitate transport, as described in U.S. Pat. Application No. 13/028,328, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
• In one embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, thetowel10 includesslots40 disposed on thefront side20 thereof and extending through the thickness and into theback side30. Theslots40 may be substantially centered along thewidth12 and may be formed at approximately one-third to approximately one-fourth of the lengthwise distance from eachedge13,14 (i.e., theshort edges13,14 across thewidth12 in the illustrated embodiment) or end of thetowel10. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 1, eachslot40 has a length of approximately 2″ (which in the illustrated embodiment is measured in the direction of thewidth12 of the towel10) and is disposed approximately11″ from each edge of thetowel10. The number ofslots40 is not limited to two. Other configurations ofslots40 are possible, including a single slot, or more than twoslots40 disposed parallel to each other, evenly or unevenly spaced along thelength11 of the towel. As shown inFIGS. 3,4, and6, the slot(s)40 can be formed approximately at the mid-length of thetowel10. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, theslots40 are disposed symmetrically on thetowel10 along both thelength11 and thewidth12. However, theslots40 may be disposed asymmetrically along only one of thelength11 andwidth12, or may be disposed entirely asymmetrical.
• In an alternative embodiment shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, thetowel10′ may include one ormore slots40′ disposed across thewidth12′ of thetowel10′. Theslots40′ may be spaced evenly or unevenly along thewidth12′ and may be disposed linearly or non-linearly. Theslots40′ may be formed near eachedge13′,14′ (i.e., theshort edges13,14′ along thewidth12′ in the illustrated embodiment) or end of thetowel10′, for example at approximately one-third to approximately one-fourth of the distance from theends13′,14′ along thelength11′. Theslots40′ may be formed near one edge/end or near two opposite edges/ends or approximately at mid-length as shown inFIG. 6. As shown inFIG. 6, in one exemplary embodiment with thetowel10′ having threeslots40′ spaced equally across thewidth12′ and at about the mid-length of thetowel10′, a user may fold thetowel10′along fold lines running lengthwise into segments that are each ⅓ the width of the towel to overlap and align theslots40′ spaced across thewidth12′. Pulling one end of thetowel10′ through all three of the alignedslots40′ secures thetowel10′ and allows thetowel10′ to lay comfortably around the neck of a user.
• In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 5, eachslot40′ has a length of approximately 2″ (which in the illustrated embodiment is measured in the direction of thewidth12′ of thetowel10′) and is disposed approximately 11″ from an edge of thetowel10′. The number ofslots40′ is not limited to three. Other configurations ofslots40′ are possible, including a single slot, or more than threeslots40′ disposed linearly, evenly or unevenly spaced along thewidth12′ of thetowel10′.
• As shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, theslots40,40′ may be lined with a high-friction,non-slip material45,45′ that helps prevent the portion of the towel inserted through the slot from falling out of theslot40,40′. For example, in alternative embodiments, high-friction material45,45′ could be disposed along an entire perimeter of theslots40,40′. Alternatively, two or more high-friction material45,45′ areas, for example, could be disposed extending along the length or the width of theslots40. As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, numerous other arrangements of high-friction material45 areas are possible in accordance with the present invention.
• The non-slip, high-friction material45,45′ can be any rubbery substance made from any material such as rubber, plastic, PVC, silica gel, or any other substance that creates a high-friction, non-slip finish. Other high-friction rubbery materials may be used in place of the PVC vinyl material. The high-friction material45 preferably forms a smooth finish without projections.
• To use thetowel10,10′, the exerciser first places thetowel10,10′ around his or her body, for example, around the neck, waist, or hips, as shown in FIGS.3,4, and6. Then, the exerciser takes one end of thetowel10,10′ (e.g., including one of the two short edges and adjacent portions of the long edges), which can be folded, rolled, or otherwise manipulated, and inserts at least a portion of the end/edge through at least one of theslots40,40′, pulling the end/edge through the chosen slot(s)40,40′ to secure the towel against his or her body, as best viewed inFIGS. 3,4, and6. Further exercise may then be performed while thetowel10,10′ is secured to the body, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6. During this time, due to the portion of thetowel10,10′ being pulled through theslot40,40′, thetowel10,10′ does not fall from the user's body during exercise. Further, the high-friction material45,45′ lining theslots40,40′ helps prevent slippage of the end/edge of thetowel10,10′ back through theslot40,40′.
• While embodiments of the invention disclosed herein describe exercise towels or scarves having at least one slot, one skilled in art should recognize that alternative configurations may be employed without deviating from the scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. An exercise accessory, comprising:

a fabric article having a length and a width; and

at least one slot formed through the article,

wherein an edge of the article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user's body.

2. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of the slots spaced across the width of the article.

3. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one slot is centered across the width of the article.

4. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein a high-friction material is disposed along a portion of the at least one slot.

5. The exercise accessory according toclaim 4, wherein the high-friction material covers an entire periphery of the at least one slot.

6. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein a material of the fabric article cools upon application and evaporation of water.

7. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the slot is spaced from an edge of the article in a direction of the length of the article by approximately one-fourth of the length of the article.

8. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the article is a towel.

9. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the article is made of a sweat-absorbing material.

10. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the article is approximately four feet in length.

11. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one slot is oriented parallel to the width of the article.

12. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the article comprises at least two slots, wherein the slots are evenly spaced across the width of the article.

13. The exercise accessory according toclaim 2, wherein the plurality of slots are disposed symmetrically along one of the width of the article.

14. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the plurality of slots are disposed asymmetrically along the length and the width of the article.

15. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of slots spaced along the length of the article.

16. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the at least one slot is oriented parallel to the length of the article.

17. The exercise accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the article comprises at least two slots, wherein the slots are evenly spaced along the length of the article.

18. An exercise accessory, comprising:

an article having a length and a width, the article including a sweat-absorbing material that cools upon application and evaporation of water; and

at least one slot formed through the article,

wherein an edge of the article is insertable through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to a user's body, and

wherein a high-friction material is disposed along a portion of the slot.

19. A method of cooling off during or after an exercise, the method comprising:

placing an exercise accessory, including a fabric article and a slot formed in the fabric article, around a part of a user's body; and

inserting at least a portion of an edge of the article through the slot to secure the exercise accessory to the part of the user's body.

20. The method ofclaim 19, wherein the part of the user's body is a neck, wrist, waist or hips.

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