Stretchable bathing towel

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bathing towels lack a structural panel with stretchable hand loops and enhanced absorbency, making it difficult to effectively clean hard-to-reach areas, especially for individuals with limited mobility.

Innovation Solution

A stretchable towel design featuring non-stretchable central absorbent sections and stretchable hand loops, constructed from materials like terry cloth or synthetic sponge, allowing for easy grasping and maintaining contact with the body while preventing the pad from stretching, ensuring effective soap and water retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a towel is made entirely stretchable to improve grasping ease, then ease of operation is improved, but the towel loses its ability to maintain a flat surface for effective scrubbing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrasping easeVSAvoidflat surface maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The towel is divided into two functional segments: stretchable hand loops for grasping and a non-stretchable central absorbent panel for scrubbing. This segmentation allows each part to have optimized properties for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the towel have different mechanical properties: the hand loops are made stretchable for ease of grasping, while the central scrubbing panel is made non-stretchable to maintain a flat surface during use. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between grasping ease and shape maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the central scrubbing panel is made non-stretchable to maintain shape, then shape stability is improved, but ease of grasping and reaching difficult areas deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshape stabilityVSAvoidgrasping ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The towel is divided into two functional segments: stretchable hand loops for grasping and a non-stretchable central absorbent panel for scrubbing. This segmentation allows each part to have optimized properties for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the towel have different mechanical properties: the hand loops are made stretchable for ease of grasping, while the central scrubbing panel is made non-stretchable to maintain a flat surface during use. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between grasping ease and shape maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the towel is made with enhanced absorbency in the central section, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The central panel uses highly absorbent material (terry cloth or synthetic sponge) specifically where soap and water retention is needed for scrubbing, while the hand loops use simpler stretchable fabric. This localized application of enhanced material properties improves cleaning effectiveness without unnecessarily complicating the entire towel structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances cleaning efficiency by maintaining a flat surface for improved absorbency and ease of use, particularly beneficial for those with mobility issues, while being inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

Implementation Method 1

The central panel is made from an absorbent material such as terry cloth or synthetic sponge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The pad assembly is configured of an absorbent material... allowing it to absorb water and associated lather

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS11278163B1Stretchable bathing towel

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 COWAN DELROY

AI summary

A bathing towel with a low stretch and absorbent layer affixed to a central segment of a material that stretches several hundred percent axially. Each end of the stretchable layer has a loop to be used as a handle. By affixing the absorbent layer to the central section of the stretchable layer, the central section of the stretchable layer will not stretch and tends to remain flat during use washing the body.