Bath quilt and a method of using said bath quilt

Abstract

A bath quilt is disclosed along with a method of using the bath quilt. The bath quilt includes first, second and third liquid-impermeable layers all joined together. The first and third layers are formed from a plurality of hydrophilic, polyolefin fiber while the second or middle layer is formed from a plurality of hydrophilic, polyester fibers. The second layer is thicker than either the first or third layer. The bath quilt has a specific gravity of about 1.0 such that it can float on water. All three layers of the bath quilt have an open pore structure and the bath quilt has a flexural rigidity of from between 90 μNm to 95 μNm.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A bath quilt formed as a non-woven composite comprising:
 a) a first, liquid-permeable layer formed from a porous fabric constructed of a plurality of hydrophilic, polyolefin fibers, said polyolefin fibers having a diameter ranging from between about 1 micron to about 50 microns, said plurality of fibers are randomly assembled to form said porous fabric, said first layer having a thickness ranging from between about 1 mm to about 5 mm, said first layer having a density greater than about 40 gsm, and said first layer having an upper surface;   b) a second, liquid-permeable layer formed from a porous fabric constructed of a plurality of hydrophilic, polyester fibers, said polyester fibers having a diameter ranging from between about 1 micron to about 50 microns, said polyester fibers having a denier ranging from between about 5 to about 10, said plurality of polyester fibers being randomly assembled to form said porous fabric, and said second layer having a thickness which is at least twice the thickness of said first layer;   c) a third, liquid-permeable layer formed from a porous fabric constructed of a plurality of hydrophilic, polyolefin fibers, said polyolefin fibers having a diameter ranging from between about 1 micron to about 50 microns, said plurality of fibers are randomly assembled to form said porous fabric, said third layer having a thickness ranging from between about 1 mm to about 5 mm, and said third layer having a thickness which is less than half of said thickness of said second layer, said third layer having a density greater than about 40 gsm, and said third layer having a lower surface; and   d) said first, second and third layers are joined together with said second layer being sandwiched between said first and third layers to form an integral bath quilt having thermal insulating properties, said bath quilt having a uniform thickness ranging from between about 0.06 inches to about 1 inch, said bath quilt having a specific gravity of about 1.0 such that it can float on water, said bath quilt is breathable and has an open pore structure throughout said first, second and third layers, and said bath quilt having a flexural rigidity of between 90 μNm and 95 μNm.   
     
     
         2 . The bath quilt of  claim 1  wherein a coating is applied to said upper surface of said first layer to facilitate printing letters, words, graphics and images thereon, and said second layer contains chemical percentages of from about 60% to 64.5% water; about 32.5% to 37% styrene acrylic binder; about 1% of an anionic surfactant; about 1% of a pH stabilizer and about 0.5% of a water repellent. 
     
     
         3 . The bath quilt of  claim 1  wherein said polyolefin fibers in said first and third layers are polypropylene fibers, said polyester fibers in said second layer have a denier ranging from between about 6 to about 9, and said bath quilt can be re submerged in warm water after having been removed from the bath water whereby said bath quilt again quickly absorbs some of said warm water and keeps a person positioned beneath said bath quilt warm. 
     
     
         4 . The bath quilt of  claim 3  further comprising a generally rectangular shape with four rounded corners and having a longitudinal central axis and a transverse central axis, and a pair of spaced apart slits formed through said first, second and third layers, said pair of slits being aligned along said transverse central axis and being offset from said longitudinal central axis, each of said pair of slits having a length of at least about 5 inches, and said pair of slits enabling a person positioned in said water, beneath said bath quilt, to extend one of his or her hands up through each of said pair of slits so as to be able to grasp an item. 
     
     
         5 . The bath quilt of  claim 4  further comprising a third slit formed through said first, second and third layers, said third slit being coaxially aligned with said longitudinal central axis, and said third slit functioning as a hanging mechanism whereby said bath quilt can be hung on a hook to dry. 
     
     
         6 . The bath quilt of  claim 1  further comprising a first end, a second end, and a pair of sides located between said first and second ends, said bath quilt having a neck opening formed therethrough which is spaced inward from said first end by at least about 3 inches, and having a longitudinal slit formed through said first, second and third layers which extends from said first end to said neck opening. 
     
     
         7 . The bath quilt of  claim 6  further comprising a generally rectangular shape with four rounded corners and a surface area ranging from between about 6 square feet to about 24 square feet, said second layer having a pore size ranging from between about 2 microns to about 15 microns, and said bath quilt having a pair of openings which extend through said first, second and third layers, each of said pair of openings located adjacent to one of said corners positioned adjacent to said second end, and said pair of openings permitting said bath quilt to be hung in an open configuration on a pair of hooks mounted to a wall above a bathtub. 
     
     
         8 . The bath quilt of  claim 1  further comprising a generally rectangular shape with four corners, said bath quilt having a longitudinal central axis, said bath quilt is breathable, said second layer is absorbent, said polyester fibers forming said second layer having a denier of 7, said first, second and third layers are joined together by ultrasonic bonds, said bath quilt having a first end, a second end, and a pair of sides located between said first and second ends, and a pair of openings which extend through said first, second and third layers, said pair of openings being aligned parallel to said longitudinal central axis, each of said pair of openings located adjacent to one of said corners positioned adjacent to said second end, and said pair of openings permitting said bath quilt to be hung in an open configuration on a pair of hooks mounted to a wall above a bathtub. 
     
     
         9 . The bath quilt of  claim 1  further comprising a scent strip secured to said upper surface of said first layer, and said scent strip providing an aromatic aroma when wetted by water. 
     
     
         10 . A bath quilt formed as a non-woven composite comprising:
 a) a first, liquid-permeable layer formed from a porous fabric constructed of a plurality of hydrophilic, polypropylene fibers, said polypropylene fibers having a diameter ranging from between about 1 micron to about 50 microns and randomly assembled to form said porous fabric, said first layer having a thickness ranging from between about 1 mm to about 5 mm, and said first layer having an upper surface;   b) a second, liquid-permeable layer formed from a porous fabric constructed of a plurality of hydrophilic, polyester fibers, said polyester fibers having a diameter ranging from between about 1 micron to about 50 microns, said polyester fibers having a denier ranging from between about 6 to about 9, said plurality of polyester fibers being randomly assembled to form said porous fabric, and said second layer having a thickness which is at least twice the thickness of said first layer;   a third, liquid-permeable layer formed from a porous fabric constructed of a plurality of hydrophilic, polypropylene fibers, said polypropylene fibers having a diameter ranging from between about 1 micron to about 50 microns, said third layer having a thickness which is less than half of said thickness of said second layer, and said third layer having a lower surface;   d) said first, second and third layers are joined together with said second layer being sandwiched between said first and third layers to form an integral bath quilt having thermal insulating properties, said bath quilt having a uniform thickness ranging from between about 0.06 inches to about 1 inch, said bath quilt having a specific gravity of about 1.0 such that it can float on water, and said bath quilt having an open pore structure throughout said first, second and third layers, and said bath quilt having a flexural rigidity of 92.6 μNm;   e) said bath quilt having a generally rectangular shape with four rounded corners and having a longitudinal central axis and a transverse central axis, and a pair of spaced apart openings formed through said first, second and third layers, said pair of openings being aligned approximately along said transverse central axis, said pair of openings extending essentially parallel to said longitudinal central axis and each having a length of at least about 5 inches, and said pair of openings enabling a person positioned beneath said bath quilt to extend one of his or her hands through each of said pair of openings so as to be able to grasp an item; and   f) a third opening formed through said first, second and third layers and aligned approximately along said longitudinal central axis, and said third opening functioning as a hanging mechanism whereby said bath quilt can be hung by said pair of openings in an open configuration on a pair of hooks mounted to a wall, to dry.   
     
     
         11 . The bath quilt of  claim 10  further comprising a first end, a second end, and a pair of sides located between said first and second ends, said bath quilt having a neck opening formed therethrough which is spaced inward from said first end by at least about 3 inches, and having a longitudinal slit formed through said first, second and third layers which extends from said first end to said neck opening. 
     
     
         12 . The bath quilt of  claim 10  wherein each of said pair of openings has an oval shape with a length of at least about 5 inches and a width, aligned perpendicular to said length, of at least about 2 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The bath quilt of  claim 12  further comprising a pair of cover flaps each secured to said upper surface of said first layer and each of said pair of cover flaps is sized to completely cover one of said pair of openings. 
     
     
         14 . The bath quilt of  claim 13  wherein said each of said pair of cover flaps contains a small central aperture with a plurality of outwardly extending radial slits, and said plurality of radial slits allows a person to extend one of his or her hands through each of said cover flaps. 
     
     
         15 . The bath quilt of  claim 10  wherein each of said pair of openings is spaced at least about 12 inches apart, and each of said pair of openings has a first end and a second end, and a seam is constructed tangentially to each of said first and second ends to prevent elongation of each of said openings. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using a bath quilt to keep a person warm and comfortable while bathing in a bathtub, said person having a body including a neck and a head, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) forming a bath quilt having a first, liquid-permeable layer formed from a porous fabric constructed of a plurality of hydrophilic, polyolefin fibers; a second, liquid-permeable layer formed from a porous fabric constructed of a plurality of hydrophilic, polyester fibers; a third, liquid-permeable layer formed from a porous fabric constructed of a plurality of hydrophilic, polyolefin fibers; said first, second and third layers being joined together with said second layer being sandwiched between said first and third layers to form an integral bath quilt having thermal insulating properties, said bath quilt having a specific gravity of about 1.0 such that it can float on water, said bath quilt having an open pore structure throughout said first, second and third layers, said bath quilt having a rectangular shape with four corners and having a longitudinal central axis, a first end, a second end, and first and second sides located between said first and second ends, said bath quilt having a pair of slits formed through said bath quilt, each of said pair of slits located approximate one of said corners located adjacent to said first end, and a third slit formed through said bath quilt and aligned along said longitudinal central axis and located approximate said second end;   b) filling a bathtub to a desired depth with water, said water being at an elevated temperature and having an upper surface;   having said person enter said filled bathtub and having said person's head and neck extend above said upper surface of said water; and   positioning said bath quilt over said upper surface of said water so as to essentially cover a major portion of said person's body except for said head and neck, said bath quilt limiting heat loss from said water and keeping said person warm and comfortable over an extended period of time, and said bath quilt capable of absorbing some of said water in said bathtub,   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising introducing additional water at an elevated temperature into said bathtub, said additional water being added above said bath quilt and some of said water being absorbed by said bath quilt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising hanging said bath quilt by said third slit on a shower fixture, said shower fixture located above said bathtub, and allowing said bath quilt to air dry. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising hanging said bath quilt by said pair of slits in an open configuration on a pair of spaced apart hooks which are mounted to a wall extending upward from said bathtub, and said bath quilt functioning as a wall decoration. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising removing said bath quilt from said upper surface of said water before said person exits said bathtub, hanging said bath quilt by said pair of slits in an open configuration on a pair of spaced apart hooks which are mounted to a wall extending upward from said bathtub.