Drying Mat Configured to Hold Accessory

Abstract

A drying mat has a first microfiber layer, a second microfiber layer, and a foam layer. The first microfiber layer and the second microfiber layer are joined to the foam layer with the first microfiber layer having a surface adjoining the foam layer and an opposite exposed surface and with the second microfiber layer having a surface adjoining the foam layer and an opposite exposed surface. The first microfiber layer exposed surface has two loops spaced apart from one another across the first microfiber layer exposed surface at a distance that corresponds to a dimension of a mount of an accessory to be used with the drying mat and that allows the loops to cooperate with each other to engage the mount of the accessory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drying mat comprising:
 a first microfiber layer;   a second microfiber layer; and   a foam layer;   wherein the first microfiber layer and the second microfiber layer are joined to the foam layer with the first microfiber layer having a surface adjoining the foam layer and an opposite exposed surface and the second microfiber layer having a surface adjoining the foam layer and an opposite exposed surface, the first microfiber layer exposed surface having at least two loops spaced apart from one another across the first microfiber layer exposed surface at a distance that corresponds to a dimension of an accessory to be used with the drying mat and allows the loops to cooperate with each other to engage the accessory.   
     
     
         2 . The drying mat according to  claim 1 , wherein the drying mat is approximately 12 inches to approximately 22 inches in width by approximately 14 inches to approximately 36 inches in length. 
     
     
         3 . The drying mat according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the loops of the first microfiber layer exposed surface is fixed in position on the exposed surface of the first microfiber layer. 
     
     
         4 . The drying mat according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance corresponds to a compressed dimension of the accessory. 
     
     
         5 . The drying mat according to  claim 1 , wherein the second microfiber layer exposed surface has at least two loops spaced apart from one another across the second microfiber layer exposed surface at a distance that corresponds to a dimension of an accessory to be used with the drying mat and allows the loops to cooperate with each other to engage the accessory. 
     
     
         6 . The drying mat according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the loops of the second microfiber layer exposed surface is fixed in position on the exposed surface of the first microfiber layer. 
     
     
         7 . The drying mat according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the loops of the first microfiber layer exposed surface and second microfiber layer exposed surface is stretchable. 
     
     
         8 . A drying mat comprising:
 a first microfiber layer;   a second microfiber layer; and   a foam layer;   wherein the first microfiber layer and the second microfiber layer are joined to the foam layer with the first microfiber layer having a surface adjoining the foam layer and an opposite exposed surface and the second microfiber layer having a surface adjoining the foam layer and an opposite exposed surface; and   wherein the first microfiber layer exposed surface has a first pair of loops, each of the loops of the first pair of loops has a length and a width transverse to the length, and the loops are spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another along their lengths and cooperate with each other to engage an accessory to be used with the drying mat.   
     
     
         9 . The drying mat according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the loops of the first pair of loops is fixed to the exposed surface of the first microfiber layer on opposite ends of the length across the width. 
     
     
         10 . The drying mat according to  claim 8 , further comprising a second pair of loops of the exposed surface of the first microfiber layer, each of the second pair of loops of the exposed surface of the first microfiber layer has a length and a width transverse to the length, and the second pair of loops are spaced apart from one another and parallel along their lengths, and the second pair of loops are spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another along their lengths and cooperate with each other to engage an accessory to be used with the drying mat. 
     
     
         11 . The drying mat according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the second pair of loops is fixed to the exposed surface of the first microfiber layer on opposite ends of the length across the width. 
     
     
         12 . The drying mat according to  claim 10 , wherein the second pair of loops spaced apart from the first pair of loops in a direction extending along the length of the first pair of loops. 
     
     
         13 . The drying mat according to  claim 12 , wherein one loop of the second pair of loops has its length arranged collinearly with the length of one loop of the first pair of loops. 
     
     
         14 . The drying mat according to  claim 13 , wherein the other loop of the second pair of loops has its length arranged collinearly with the length of the other loop of the first pair of loops. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 providing a drying mat with a first microfiber layer comprising a first surface and a second surface, a second microfiber layer comprising a first surface and a second surface, a foam layer comprising a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface of the foam layer is applied to the second surface of the first microfiber layer and the second surface of the foam layer is applied to the second surface of the second microfiber layer, the first microfiber layer first surface has at least two loops spaced apart from one another across the first microfiber layer first surface at an accessory mounting distance; and   providing an accessory to be used with the drying mat, the accessory having a dimension that corresponds to the accessory mounting distance of the first microfiber first layer first surface, the accessory being configured to engage the loops such that the loops cooperate with each other to engage the accessory.   
     
     
         16 . The method  claim 15 , further comprising installing the accessory on the drying mat by inserting the accessory into the loops. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the accessory includes providing the accessory with a compressible mount. 
     
     
         18 . The method  claim 17 , wherein the step of installing the accessory on the drying mat by inserting the mount into the loops includes compressing the mount such that the mount dimension corresponds to the accessory mounting distance and the mount engages the loops. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the accessory includes providing an accessory that comprises a holder for at least one of following: a dish, drinkware, fork, knife, spoon, cup, stemware, tumbler, glassware, strainer, colander, bakeware, cookware, pot, pan, baking sheet, baby bottle, bottle, and jar. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the drying mat including providing the drying mat with at least two additional loops spaced apart from one another across the first microfiber layer first surface at the accessory mounting distance; and the step of installing the accessory on the drying mat by inserting the accessory into the loops includes inserting the accessory into the two additional loops.