Integrated convertible foot towel

Abstract

The invention is entirely new in that there is no other product known to the inventor which accomplishes the aim of enabling an individual to dry his or her feet without stooping or bending and without putting a towel or rug on the floor. The invention quite simply is a water resistant base portion which stays put on the tub (but is easily removable therefrom), accompanied by a convertible portion on which there is a towel mounted, which is easily removable from the base portion for cleaning.

1 . [a1] The first independent claim is for a fully integrated convertible foot towel; the invention is not organically complex in that it consists principally of two parts: a base portion and a convertible portion; 
 The base portion (hereinafter “base portion”) is simply a piece of rubber or similar material, whether pre-crimped (that is to say, pre-molded at the factory to conform to the outer dimensions of a bathtub) or not pre-crimped.    If the base portion is not pre-crimped, it will be flexible enough to conform to the outside of the bathtub so that it can be draped across and lie flat against it as one would drape a towel over the edge of the tub so as to wipe one's feet on it prior to stepping out of the tub.    The underside of the base portion will either be flat, if the base portion is manufactured utilizing such materials so as to adhere on its own to the surface of the tub, or as an alternative it will have mini suction cups similar to those found on the base of a device which holds bar soap in the bathtub.    It must be recognized that the dimensions of the base portion may vary depending upon the size of the tub, or design of the tub, or manufacturer of the tub on which it is used; nevertheless the design will achieve the same essential purpose, which is to be a base portion for the convertible portion.    The convertible portion is a flat portion which is made of the same material as the base, but which has glued or otherwise attached onto the top of it a rectangular (or perhaps square, depending upon the dimensions of the tub) section of towel.    The towel could be any make, model, product, pile thickness, or color, and its composition and character should be construed as broadly as possible to avoid infringement.    The convertible portion is detachable from the base portion because the underside of the convertible portion will have suction cups on it like those found in a bar soap holder in the bathtub.    It should be recognized that the underside of the convertible portion may as an alternative have on it Velcro instead, in which case the base portion would have Velcro on the top of it so as to fasten to the convertible portion securely.    It should be recognized that the convertible portion could also potentially have a zipper around its perimeter, allowing the user to “zip off” the towel portion for easier laundering, as in such case the convertible portion would consist only of towel without any rubber component to it.    The convertible portion could also potentially have snaps around its perimeter which would correspond to snap fasteners on the top of the base portion, as a means of securing one to the other.    Finally, as an alternative, the convertible portion could also consist of two components: namely, (1) the towel portion which zips off from (2) the rubber portion, which in turn mounts to the base portion in a manner allowing easy detachment therefrom, by means of Velcro, a zipper or suction cups.    
   
   
     Dependent Claims: 
 [b1] As described above, the device described in [a1] in which the underside of the base portion adheres to the tub by means of suction cups.  
 [c1] The device described in [b1], in which the convertible portion consists of a section of towel with a zipper around its perimeter, allowing the user to in essence “zip off” the towel for ease in laundering.  
 [c1-1] The device described in [c1], in which the towel zips off from the top of the convertible portion, and the convertible portion zips off from the top of the base portion.  
 [c1-2] The device described in [c1], in which the towel zips off from the top of the convertible portion, and the convertible portion mounts to the base portion by means of suction cups.  
 [c1-3] The device described in [c1], in which the towel zips off from the top of the convertible portion, and the convertible portion mounts to the base portion by means of snaps and/or fasteners.  
 [c2] The device described in [b1] in which the convertible portion consists of a section of towel mounted permanently to a rubber base (hereinafter “rubber base”), or base of similar material, on the underside of which base are suction cups, which then allow the convertible portion to be temporarily affixed to the base portion.  
 [d1] The device described in [c2] in which the section of towel is not permanently mounted to the rubber base, but rather is fastened to the rubber base by means of Velcro, suction cups, a zipper, or fasteners.  
 [c3] The device described in [b1] in which the convertible portion consists of a section of towel mounted permanently to a rubber base, or base of similar material, on the underside of which base are buttons or snaps. In such case, corresponding fasteners to the snaps would be found on the top of the base portion.  
 [e1] The device described in [c3] in which the section of towel is not permanently mounted to the rubber base, but rather is fastened to the rubber base by means of Velcro, suction cups, a zipper, or fasteners.  
 [b2] As described above, the device described in [a1] in which the underside of the base portion adheres to the tub by nature of its chemical composition alone.  
 [f1] The device described in [b2], in which the convertible portion consists of a section of towel with a zipper around its perimeter, allowing the user to in essence “zip off” the towel for ease in laundering.  
 [f2] The device described in [b2] in which the convertible portion consists of a section of towel mounted permanently to a rubber base, or base of similar material, on the underside of which base are suction cups, which then allow the convertible portion to be temporarily affixed to the base portion.  
 [g1] The device described in [f2] in which the section of towel is not permanently mounted to the rubber base, but rather is fastened to the rubber base by means of Velcro, suction cups, a zipper, or fasteners.  
 [f3] The device described in [b2] in which the convertible portion consists of a section of towel mounted permanently to a rubber base, or base of similar material, on the underside of which base are buttons or snaps. In such case, corresponding fasteners to the snaps would be found on the top of the base portion.  
 [h1] The device described in [f3] in which the section of towel is not permanently mounted to the rubber base, but rather is fastened to the rubber base by means of Velcro, suction cups, a zipper, or fasteners.  
 While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.