U.S. patent application number 10/435644 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for towel holders.
Invention is credited to Diana L. Simmons.
Application Number | 20070050951 10/435644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37828717 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070050951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Simmons; Diana L. |
March 8, 2007 |
Towel holders
Abstract
The present invention relates to a towel holder device for
maintaining towels in place, keeping them from falling off of a
rack or sink countertop. The device comprises an elongated strip of
solid material with two ends. The strip is formed to create an
enclosure space for holding a towel, with the towel in a desired
shape. The two ends are spaced apart and face each other. The strip
is formed of a material that has a flexing ability sufficient to
enable the two ends to be separated enough to expand the enclosure
space to enable the towel to fit into and out of the space without
resistance from the strip. The flexing ability enables the strip to
return to its original shape, holding the towel with a friction fit
to prevent movement of the towel. The strip is capable of providing
any of a number of changeable decorative appearances.
Inventors: |
Simmons; Diana L.; (Tucson,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald W. Meeker;Patent Agent
924 East Ocean Front #E
Newport Beach
CA
92661
US
|
Family ID: |
37828717 |
Appl. No.: |
10/435644 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/025 20130101;
Y10T 24/1312 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/007 |
International
Class: |
A45F 5/04 20060101
A45F005/04 |
Claims
1. A towel holder device for maintaining towels in place in an
orderly array, the device comprising: an elongated strip of solid
material having two ends, the strip formed into a desired
peripheral shape encircling an enclosure space with the two ends
adjacent to each other to form a towel holder for encircling and
maintaining a towel therein within the enclosure space with the
towel in a desired shape formed by the peripheral shape of the
towel holder encircling at least one portion of the towel, the two
ends spaced apart and facing each other, the strip formed of at
least one flexible material so that the two ends are separable by a
sufficient amount to expand the enclosure space into a first open
position to receive at least one side of a folded towel to fit into
and out of the enclosure space without resistance from the strip
and so that the two ends are releasable to allow the strip to
return to its original shape maintaining the towel within the
enclosure space with a friction fit to prevent movement of the
towel with the towel hanging over a towel rack or placed on a sink
countertop, the towel holder configured with an outer surface to
match a decorative look of the towel, the towel holder being
replaceable by other towel holders with different differently
configured peripheral shapes and outer surfaces to provide any of a
number of changeable decorative appearances.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the strip is covered with a
covering material having a quality to match the towel and an
environment in which the towel is placed.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the covering material is formed of
a high friction material capable of assisting to assist in
maintaining the towel within the strip.
4. The device of claim 2 wherein the covering material is
fabricated of variously colored and imprinted cloth formed into a
sleeve around the strip.
5. The device of claim 2 wherein the covering material capable of
receiving has a visual image thereon.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the visual image is imprinted on
the covering material.
7. The device of claim 5 wherein the visual image is on an element
attachable to the covering material.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the strip is fabricated of a
material having a desired appearance to match the towel and an
environment in which the towel is placed.
9. The device of claim 8 wherein the strip is fabricated by molding
a colored synthetic material.
10. The device of claim 8 wherein the strip is fabricated by
casting a desired metal to form the strip.
11. The device of claim 8 wherein the strip is fabricated by
bending a desired metal to form the strip.
12. The device of claim 1 wherein the strip has a visual image
thereon.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein the visual image is imprinted on
the strip.
14. The device of claim 12 wherein the strip is formed by a molding
process and the visual image is formed on the strip in the molding
process.
15. The device of claim 12 wherein the strip is formed by a casting
process and the visual image is formed on the strip in the casting
process.
16. The device of claim 12 wherein the visual image is on an
element attachable to the strip.
17. The device of claim 1 wherein the strip is formed to create an
enclosure of any desired shape.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of towel holders,
and in particular a ring-type device that maintains the towel in
place and is easily removed and also easy to replace after the
towel has been used.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Towels are very often not considered decorative, but merely
functional. Very often towels are not returned to the towel rack,
but left somewhere else in the bathroom or kitchen. When returned
to the rack the towels often wind up being thrown over the rack in
some haphazard fashion. Towels haphazardly strewn about create a
messy appearance and do not help the towels to dry after use.
[0005] Prior art patents describe several ring-type devices that
are designed to hold drapery in place, some of which offer the
ability to interchange devices to suit decorative needs, but none
are given for use in maintaining a towel in place.
[0006] Towels for use in the bathroom, whether bath towels or hand
towels, are commonly manufactured in a large variety of colors to
match the bathroom decor or the personal taste of the homeowner.
Additionally, the towels may be printed in a variety of patterns or
designs. Also, especially on higher quality towels, a decorative
trim piece such as an elongated trim strip may be added to one
surface of the towel. This trim piece may be integrally formed
during weaving of the fabric, or may be a separate trim piece that
is sewn onto the end of the towel. Sewing of the trim piece onto
the towel permits a greater variety of decorative results, since
the trim strip can be of a different color, a different material
and/or of a different construction. Thus, for example, a satin trim
piece can be sewn onto a cotton towel. As another example, a
fringed trim strip can be sewn onto the towel edge.
[0007] Despite the numerous decorative effects that can be achieved
by combining various available colors, designs and trims, there are
still decorative effects that cannot be achieved by these
techniques. In addition, many homeowners wish to frequently change
the decor of their bathrooms. Self-decorators have attempted for
years to add decorative tributes to their towels, i.e. bows,
flowers, lace, themes, schemes, etc. However, once the towel has
been decorated it is often rendered unusable if it is to retain its
decorative appearance. Often the decoration is too cumbersome or
difficult for a towel user to undo and then redo after use.
[0008] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 1,971,794, issued Aug. 28, 1934 to
Panettiere, provides a fastening device that is adapted to support
towels and the like, and is designed to clampingly engage the towel
in such a manner that the towel will be more firmly gripped as the
pull on the towel is increased. The towel is easily engaged and
released, and when engaged will be firmly gripped and held against
removal.
[0009] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,329,446, issued Sep. 14, 1943 to
Whitehead, shows a festoon ring for supporting draperies and the
like. The festoon ring is designed to hingedly open for insertion
of the drape.
[0010] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,734, issued Nov. 20, 1973 to
Kimel, claims an openable curtain ring that has a body in the form
of a loop carrying two jaws at the end of the loop. The jaws are
adapted to clamp against a piping on the curtain. The curtain can
be released by deforming the loop so that the jaws are moved apart.
Releasable locking means are provided to maintain the jaws clamped
against the piping. An embodiment is disclosed in which a hook is
added to the ring for supporting a second curtain that hangs
alongside the first-mentioned curtain.
[0011] U.S. Pat No. D311,836, issued Nov. 6, 1990 to Dala,
describes an ornamental design for a clip designed to secure beach
towels to chairs or the like.
[0012] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D382,431, issued Aug. 19, 1997 to
Parra, discloses the ornamental design for a flexible towel
holder.
[0013] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,695, issued Apr. 9, 2002 to
Gabriele, indicates decorative trim pieces that are added to towels
with a releasable attachment means so that the trim pieces can be
replaced to effect changes in decor. The ability to remove the trim
piece prior to laundering of the towel also permits the use of a
greater variety of materials, including materials that would be
damaged by laundering. Preferably, the attachment means is a
plurality of male fastener components attached to a first flexible
support that is secured to the trim strip back, and a plurality of
mating female fastener components attached to a second flexible
support, that is secured a surface of the towel.
[0014] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,058, issued Aug. 4, 1979 to
Barna, puts forth a decorative ring-like structure that includes a
generally longitudinally split cylindrical sleeve having a fabric
tube snugly received thereover. The fabric tube has a length
substantially greater than the circumference of the sleeve to
provide a decorative pleated arrangement.
[0015] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,927, issued Jun. 25, 2002 to
Kananen, concerns drapery retainers that generally comprise of very
large beads, each pierced by a cylindrical hole through which a
curtain or drape is drawn. The beads may be joined together to form
multiple stacked beads or the beads may be equipped with attachment
devices to fasten the beads to walls behind the drapes. The beads
may be of any suitable base material such as wood, metal or plastic
with the base material decoratively finished. Alternatively, the
base material may be covered with decorative cloth or other wrap
that can be replaced as desired. Also disclosed are devices for
joining the beads together and for attaching cloth or wrap.
[0016] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,401, issued Jul. 7, 1998 to
Faurie, illustrates a curtain tie back arrangement that uses a
plurality of pivotal and variably spaced rings through which the
drapery material is decoratively laced.
[0017] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,370, issued Feb. 27, 1990 to
Erdmann, is for a curtain or drapery holding device that has a
removable magnetic front piece. The front piece is designed to take
various decorative forms.
[0018] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,996, issued Jun. 28, 1994 to
Rendall, provides a bracket for removably fastening a flexible web
article to a generally planar support surface. The bracket includes
first and second generally closed bands of approximate equivalent
size adapted to grip the flexible web article and fastening element
adapted for engagement with the support surface for affixing the
closed bands thereto. The fastening element includes a first side
portion having a surface adapted to attach to the support surface
and an opposite second side portion which carries the closed bands
in juxtaposition to each other. In one embodiment, the closed
bands, in the form of two planar rings, are coupled to the second
side portion in an abutted position to permit pivoting of each ring
about the second side portion. In a second embodiment, an
attachment band is carried by the second side portion and loops
through two planar rings to fasten them to the fastening element.
In a third embodiment, an attachment band which loops through two
planar rings is swivelably coupled to the second side portion.
[0019] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,692, issued Aug. 16, 1983 to
Macfie, shows a utility fastener device for securing sheet material
to an associated structure. The device includes a ring closed by a
snap closure in the form of a socket closure and plug closure
between which the material is gripped. The socket closure includes
an interior opening having a gripping rim catching material pushed
into the opening by the plug. The socket opening and plug have a
smooth rounded configuration devoid of sharp edges to hold the
material without puncturing or tearing.
[0020] What is needed is a simple, flexible decorative towel holder
that is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to apply, which would
keep towels in place and assist in encouraging people in a
household to replace towels properly on the towel rack in an
organized and attractive array. A device is needed that would
assist in identifying personal towels and also create a decorative
effect to enhance the appearance of a towel and of a room.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] An object of the present invention is to provide a simple,
flexible decorative towel holder that holds the towels in place to
keep them from falling off the rack or the sink countertop.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
simple, flexible decorative towel holder that helps to dry towels
by keeping the towels hanging straight down.
[0023] An added object of the present invention is to provide a
decorative towel holder that is easy and simple to use due to its
flexing ability, thereby encouraging usage of the device.
[0024] One more object of the present invention is to provide a
method of maintaining an orderly environment by providing an
incentive to put the towels back in their proper place.
[0025] An additional object of the present invention is to provide
a means to identify towels, such as one labeled for a guest, to
avoid confusion and extra laundry.
[0026] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
means to teach children or developmentally disabled persons how to
care for their own towels by providing identifying characters.
[0027] A contributory object of the present invention is to provide
a flexible strip capable of providing any of a number of changeable
decorative appearances.
[0028] In brief, a towel holder device is provided for maintaining
towels in place, keeping them from falling off of a rack or sink
countertop. The device comprises an elongated strip of solid
material with two ends. The strip is formed to create an enclosure
space for holding a towel, with the towel in a desired shape. The
two ends are spaced apart and face each other. The strip is formed
of a material or materials that have a flexing ability sufficient
to enable the two ends to be separated enough to expand the
enclosure space to enable the towel to fit into and out of the
space without resistance from the strip. The flexing ability
enables the strip to return to its original shape, holding the
towel with a friction fit to prevent movement of the towel.
[0029] The strip of the towel holder is capable of providing any of
a number of changeable decorative appearances. The strip can be
formed to create an enclosure of any desired shape, such as a
circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle or any other desired shape
capable of retaining a towel. The strip is capable of being covered
with a covering material that has a quality to match the towel and
an environment in which the towel is placed. The covering material
may be formed of a high friction material capable of assisting in
maintaining the towel within the strip. The covering material can
be fabricated of variously colored and imprinted cloth formed into
a sleeve around the strip and is capable of receiving a visual
image thereon. The visual image can be imprinted on the covering
material or can be an element attachable to the covering material.
The strip may also be fabricated of a material that has a desired
appearance to match the towel and an environment in which the towel
is placed. The strip is fabricated by molding a colored synthetic
material or fabricated by casting or bending a desired metal to
form the strip. The strip that is fabricated in this manner is
capable of receiving a visual image thereon. The visual image may
be an element attachable to the strip, imprinted on the strip, or
the strip may formed by a molding or casting process and the visual
image is formed on the strip in the molding or casting process.
[0030] An advantage of the present invention is that is holds
towels in place.
[0031] Another advantage of the present invention is it provides an
identifying means for towels.
[0032] An additional advantage of the present invention is that it
is simple to use.
[0033] One more advantage of the present invention is in being
inexpensive to manufacture.
[0034] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it
helps towels to dry.
[0035] Still another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides changeable decorative appearances.
[0036] A final advantage of the present invention is in keeping
towels in a smooth, unwrinkled condition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] These and other details of my invention will be described in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and
in which drawings:
[0038] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the tower holder of
the present invention holding a front half of a towel hung over a
towel rack, the towel holder having an imprinted or mold-formed or
casting-formed image of a teddy bear thereon;
[0039] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the tower holder of
FIG. 1 holding both the front and back halves of a towel hung over
a towel rack;
[0040] FIG. 3 is a top plan schematic view of a number of possible
configurations for the towel holder, a circle in 9A, an oval in 9B,
a square in 9C, a rectangle in 9D;
[0041] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the towel holder of FIG. 1
formed of a material to match a towel, preferably in color, or an
environment in which a towel is placed, preferable in material or
color;
[0042] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the towel holder of FIG. 1
having a covering material to match a towel, preferably in color,
or an environment in which a towel is placed, preferable in
material or color;
[0043] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the towel holder of FIG. 1
formed of a material to match a towel, preferably in color, or an
environment in which a towel is placed, preferable in material or
color and further having a visual image, a flower, on an element,
which may be fabric or synthetic material attachable to the towel
holder or synthetic material formed in the molding process for a
synthetically molded towel holder or metal formed in the casting
process of a metal towel holder;
[0044] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the towel holder of FIG. 5
having a covering material to match a towel, preferably in color,
or an environment in which a towel is placed, preferable in
material or color and further having a visual image, a flower, on
an element, which may be fabric or synthetic material or metal
attachable to the covering material;
[0045] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view showing a series of
possible images which might be desirable to place on the towel
holder for children, a horse in 7A or a teddy bear in 7B, or
special occasions, a heart for Valentines Day or a romantic
sentiment in 7C, or a wreath for Christmas in 7D;
[0046] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a sink having a towel holder
around two halves of a towel folded over within the towel holder
and placed on the sink counter, the towel holder formed of a
material to match a towel, preferably in color, or an environment
in which a towel is placed, preferable in material or color and
further having a visual image, a word, imprinted or mold-formed or
casting-formed thereon.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0047] In FIG. 1-7 and 9, a towel holder device 20 and 20A-20D is
provided for maintaining towels 30 in place in an orderly array.
The device 20 and 20A-20D comprises an elongated strip 22 of solid
material that has two ends. The strip 22 is formed to create an
enclosure space 21 for maintaining a towel 30 therein with the
towel 30 in a desired shape. The two ends are spaced apart and
facing each other. The strip 22 is formed of a material that has a
flexing ability sufficient to enable the two ends to be separated
by a sufficient amount to expand the enclosure space 21 to enable
the towel 30 to fit into and out of the space 21 without resistance
from the strip 22. The flexing ability enables the strip 22 to
return to its original shape, while maintaining the towel 30
therein with a friction fit to prevent movement of the towel 30, as
shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9.
[0048] The strip 22 is capable of providing any of a number of
changeable decorative appearances. The strip 22 can be formed to
create an enclosure of any desired shape, such as a circle 22 in
FIG. 3A, an oval 22B in FIG. 3B, a square 22C in FIG. 3C, a
rectangle 22D in FIG. 3D or any other desired shape capable of
retaining a towel 30. The strip 22 is capable of being covered with
a covering material 23, as shown in FIG. 5, which has a quality to
match the towel 30 and an environment in which the towel 30 is
placed. The covering material 23 may be formed of a high friction
material capable of assisting in maintaining the towel 30 within
the strip 22. The covering material 23 can be fabricated of
variously colored and imprinted cloth formed into a sleeve around
the strip 22 and is capable of receiving a visual image 24A-24G
thereon. The visual image can be imprinted on the covering material
23, not shown, or can be an element 24A-24F attachable to the
covering material 23, as shown in FIG. 7. The strip 22 may also be
fabricated of a material that has a desired appearance to match the
towel 30 and an environment in which the towel 30 is placed, as
shown in FIG. 4. The strip 22 may be fabricated by molding a
colored synthetic material or fabricated by casting or bending a
desired metal to form the strip 22. The strip 22 that is fabricated
in this manner is capable of receiving a visual image 24A-24G
thereon. The visual image may be an element 24A-24F attachable to
the strip as shown in FIG. 6, imprinted or embossed or engraved 24G
on the strip as shown in FIG. 9, or the strip 22 may formed by a
molding or casting process and the visual image 24B is formed on
the strip 22 in the molding or casting process, as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2.
[0049] In practice, a user could place a towel 30 over a towel rack
40, flex the towel holder 20 to create an opening 21, and encircle
the front half 30F of the towel 30, as shown in FIG. 1. The user
would then release the strip 22 to return to its original shape,
while maintaining the towel 30 therein with a friction fit to
prevent movement of the towel 30. A user could alternatively
encircle both the front 30F and back 30B halves of a towel 30 hung
over a towel rack 40, as shown in FIG. 2. A further use could be to
place the towel holder 20 around two halves 30F and 30B of a towel
30 folded over within the towel holder 20 and placed on the sink
counter, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0050] In practice, the towel holder 20 could be used to teach
children or developmentally disabled persons how to care for their
own towels 30 by choosing an image 24A-24F or character which might
be desirable to the child or developmentally disabled person, such
as a horse 24A in FIG. 8A or a teddy bear 24B, shown in FIGS. 1, 2
and 8B.
[0051] In practice the towel holder 20 could be used to identify
personal towels 30 to avoid confusion and extra laundry, by
labeling 24G the strip 22 as shown in FIG. 9.
[0052] In practice the towel holder 20 could be used to provide any
of a number of changeable decorative appearances. The strip 22 can
be formed to create an enclosure of any desired shape, such as a
circle 22 in FIG. 3A, an oval 22B in FIG. 3B, a square 22C in FIG.
3C, a rectangle 22D in FIG. 3D or any other desired shape capable
of retaining a towel 30. The user could cover the strip 22 with a
covering material 23 that has a quality to match the towel 30 and
an environment in which the towel 30 is placed, as shown in FIG. 5.
The user could affix a visual image 24F on to the covering material
23, as shown in FIG. 7, or the visual image can be imprinted on the
covering material 23, not shown.
[0053] In practice, the user could choose a towel holder 20 that is
fabricated of a material that has a desired appearance to match the
towel 30 and an environment in which the towel 30 is placed. The
strip 22 may be fabricated by molding a colored synthetic material
or fabricated by casting or bending a desired metal to form the
strip 22. The strip 22 that is fabricated in this manner is capable
of receiving a visual image 24A-24F thereon. The visual image 24G
could be imprinted or molded on the strip 22, as shown in FIG. 9,
or the user could attach the visual image (24E for example) to the
strip 22, as shown in FIG. 6. The user could change the visual
image 24A-24F for special occasions, for example, a heart 24C for
Valentines Day or a romantic sentiment, shown in FIG. 8C, or a
wreath 24D for Christmas, as in FIG. 8D.
[0054] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *