U.S. patent application number 12/200155 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-11 for wearable towel.
Invention is credited to Chazon Stein.
Application Number | 20090144874 12/200155 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40755822 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090144874 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stein; Chazon |
June 11, 2009 |
Wearable Towel
Abstract
A towel easily wrapped and fixed about a body of a wearer, the
towel having a substantially planer rectangular main body having
two openings in the main body configured for securing the towel to
the body of the wearer using one arm.
Inventors: |
Stein; Chazon; (Miami,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT M. SCHWARTZ, P.A.
P.O. BOX 221470
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022
US
|
Family ID: |
40755822 |
Appl. No.: |
12/200155 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12056467 |
Mar 27, 2008 |
|
|
|
12200155 |
|
|
|
|
60992406 |
Dec 5, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 7/008 20130101;
A47K 10/02 20130101; A41D 15/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/69 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/02 20060101
A47K010/02 |
Claims
1. A towel wrapped and fixed about a body of a wearer, the towel
comprising: a. a substantially planer rectangular main body having
two substantially congruent horizontal edges and two substantially
congruent vertical edges; b. two securing means securing the main
body to one arm of a user, wherein each securing means is
positioned on, adjacent to, or within, the uppermost outermost
subquadrant of two horizontal main body quadrants.
2. The towel of claim 1 wherein said securing means are any of an
opening in the main body, a strap, or combinations thereof.
3. The towel of claim 1 wherein said securing means are straps
releasably attached to said main body.
4. The towel of claim 1 wherein said securing means are straps
permanently attached to said main body.
5. The towel of claim 1 wherein said securing means are on opposite
ends of said main body.
6. The towel of claim 1 wherein said securing means are on opposite
ends of said main body separated from each other by a distance
approximately two times the diameter of a human torso.
7. The towel of claim 1 wherein said securing means are on opposite
ends of said main body separated from each other a distance
approximately the circumferecne of a human torso.
8. The towel of claim 1 wherein said towel wraps completely around
the circumference of the trunk of the user.
9. The towel of claim 1 wherein said securing means are parallel
and adjacent to the horizontal edge.
10. The towel of claim 1 wherein each securing means is congruently
positioned relative to placement on the main body to a horizontal
axis.
11. The towel of claim 1 wherein each securing means is congruently
positioned relative to placement on the main body to a vertical
axis.
12. The towel of claim 1 wherein each securing means is congruent
relative to their distance from each of their respective adjacent
horizontal and vertical sides of said towel body.
13. A method for wearing a towel comprising the steps of: a.
providing a towel according to claim 1; b. securing the main body
to a user by interacting one arm of a user with one securing means;
c. wrapping the main body of the towel around the body of the
wearer; d. securing a terminal side of the main body into a fixed
position by placing the same arm from step b within the opposite
opening securing means. wherein said two openings are parallel and
adjacent to a horizontal edge of said body, and further wherein
said two openings are congruent relative to a horizontal axis, and
congruent relative to a vertical axis.
Description
INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/056,467, filed Mar. 27, 2008, which claims
the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/992,406 filed Dec. 5, 2007 the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to towels for body wiping,
protection and privacy for temporary attachment to a human body
during uses that can include physical workout, shaving, applying
makeup, being in the presence of other people, between personal
care activities, being unclothed in variously inclement
surroundings, and/or other activities before being clothed.
[0003] Robes, tote towels and other modifications of towels are
well known. In a manner taught by this invention, however, none are
known to provide the temporary attachment as in the present
invention.
[0004] The subject invention provides a novel, easy to manufacture,
and easy to use towel to address the current need.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The subject invention provides a novel towel configuration
that is easily wrapped and fixed into position about the body of a
wearer.
[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the towel includes a
substantially planer rectangular main body as is commonly known.
There are two openings that are congruently placed along the top
and/or uppermost outermost subquandrant of the towel body. Suitable
that one arm can support the main body.
[0007] In one embodiment, the opening is approximately about 10
inches long and up to 1 inch wide, with a preference between
0.1-0.7 inches wide. The ideal with, however, is approximately 0.5
inches wide. The opening, in this embodiment, is set inward from
the edge of the longest towel side by about approximately 4 inches.
The opening is set inward from the shorter towel side by about
approximately about 3 inches. Opening placements and measurement
will differ depending on the size of the towel.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment the said openings are congruently
placed relative to their position to their respective adjacent
edges.
[0009] Alternatively, the two openings may be positioned in any
desired configuration. That would allow them to attach to only one
arm of the user.
[0010] In one embodiment, the openings may have a mechanism by
which the sizes of the opening can be adjusted. The said mechanism
may be any that is commonly known and can include but would not be
limited to buttons, snaps, zipper, Velcro.RTM., hook and loop and
the like.
[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the towel may have one opening
adjacent to a first side and a mechanism for attaching the second
or terminal side once the towel is wrapped around the body of a
user.
[0012] The towel may be formed of any acceptable material including
but not limited to conventional terrycloth-type material.
Terrycloth is a fabric with loops that can absorb large amounts of
water. It can be manufactured by weaving or knitting, with weaving
on a dobby loom the predominant commercial method, having two beams
of longitudinal warp through which the filler or weft is fired
laterally.
[0013] Alternatively, the towel may be formed from non-absorbent
materials and used for bathing suit cover-ups, pajamas, as well as
the same configured invention may be used for a cocktail party were
it, for example, made out of silk. We will refer to all rectangular
configurations that can be fastened or secured in such a manner as
a towel.
[0014] Preferably, the regions bordering each of the openings, are
reinforced to give structural strength and integrity to the towel
such that the repeated motion of placing an arm in the opening and
removing the arm from the opening does not tear or otherwise
compromise the integrity of the towel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the towel of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 depicts sequential steps relating to the use of the
towel of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the towel divided into quadrants
and subquadrants.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows plan and side views of the towel with oval
openings.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows plan and side views of the towel with oval
openings positioned on an angle.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows plan and side views of the towel with a single
oval opening.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows plan and side views of the towel with a
triangularly configured attaching means.
[0022] FIG. 8 shows plan and side views of the towel with
triangularly arranged ovals around a triangular region.
[0023] FIG. 9 shows plan and side views of the towel with a single
securing strap along the top center.
[0024] FIG. 10 shows plan and side views of the towel with
triangularly arranged straps.
[0025] FIG. 11 shows plan and side views of the towel with straps
along one edge.
[0026] FIG. 12 shows plan and side views of the towel with straps
adjacent to one edge.
[0027] FIG. 13 shows plan and side views of the towel with straps
along one edge.
[0028] FIG. 14 shows plan and side views of the towel with
triangularly arranged straps.
[0029] FIG. 15 shows plan and side views of the towel with a single
securing strap along the top center.
[0030] FIG. 16 shows various securing means.
[0031] FIG. 17 shows plan and side views of the towel with a
plurality of receiving holes around the perimeter.
[0032] FIG. 18 is an expanded view from FIG. 17 showing embodiments
of securing an attaching means to the towel.
[0033] FIG. 19 shows several embodiments of attaching means secured
to the towel.
[0034] FIG. 20 shows an embodiment having several towels
attached.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] Towel 10 includes a first side 25 and a second side 26
defined by the first vertical side 11 second vertical side 12 first
horizontal side 13 and second horizontal side 14. First side 25 and
second side 26 collectively form a substantially planer main body
of towel 10. Towel 10 has a vertical axis A-A equidistant from
first vertical side 11 and second vertical side 12. Towel 10 has a
horizontal axis B-B equidistant from first horizontal side 13 and
second horizontal side 14. Towel 10 may include periphery stitching
28 that is placed around the periphery of towel 10 along sides 11,
12, 13, and 14.
[0036] Towel 10 has a first opening 15 defined by outer opening
border 16 inner opening border 17 lower opening border 18 and upper
opening border 19. Opening 15 is parallel to first horizontal side
13 and configured such that opening 15 is relatively adjacent to
second vertical side 12. Opening 15 may also include stitching 29
that may reinforce the integrity of the fabric bordering opening
15. Optionally, opening 15 may contain additional material along
the periphery of opening 15 that may provide padding, or a
decorative border.
[0037] Towel 10 has a second opening 20 defined by outer opening
border 21 inner opening border 22 lower opening border 23 and upper
opening border 24. Opening 20 is parallel to the second vertical
site 12 and configured such that opening 20 is relatively adjacent
to second vertical side 12. Opening 20 may also include stitching
27 that may reinforce the integrity of the fabric bordering opening
20. Optionally, opening 20 may contain additional material along
the periphery of opening 20 that may provide padding, or a
decorative border.
[0038] In an environment of use, as shown in FIG. 2, a user will
place their entire arm through first opening 15, as shown in Step
1. Next, the user wraps towel 10 around their torso as shown in
Step 2. Next, the user wraps towel 10 around their torso as shown
in Step 2. The definition of torso described herein refers to the
circumference of the trunk of the wearer. The trunk of the wearer
refers to the circumference of the dorsal (comprising the spinal
cavity) and the ventral (comprising the thoracic/abdomino-pelvic)
cavities. Previous rectangular configurations referred to the torso
as being the width of the wearer's trunk. The width of the torso,
as previously described, is roughly the diameter of the torso. The
present invention wraps around greater than twice the diameter of a
torso, or twice the measurement from one armpit to the other. The
present invention also wraps around the circumference of the torso,
which is a distance of less than "pie" or ".PI." times one-half of
the diameter squared. Thus, the distance between the 2 securing
means of the present invention is the circumference of the torso,
which is much greater then the width of the torso previously
described. The user will then place the same arm that had
previously been placed through first opening 15, through second
opening 20. Once the user has placed a single arm through each of
first opening 15 and second opening 20, first side 25 will be
facing away from the user and second side 26 will face the
user.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, it is contemplated a towel of the
present invention has a securing means. The securing means is
preferably located, on, within, or adjacent to an uppermost
outermost subquadrant. By way of example, FIG. 3 shows a towel
divided into main quadrants I, II, III, and IV. Each of the main
quadrants may be divided into subquadrants i, ii, iii, and iv. In
the embodiment depicted, the attaching means would be positioned
in, on, or near subquadrant i, of quadrant I, and subquadrant ii,
of quadrant II. In positioning the attaching means in the uppermost
outermost subquadrants as described, the towel will wrap around the
wearer more like a toga style and not like a shirt, vest, or tunic.
Additionally, a towel constructed in this manner, as well as a
towel constructed with hook and loop fasteners, such as
Velcro.RTM., hook, or snap attachments, does not require sleeves or
any extra material, such as material extending beyond the outer
periphery of the openings, half the perimeter of a torso, in order
to secure to the body of a wearer.
[0040] FIGS. 8, 10, 14, and 18 have depictions showing multiple
positions of the securing means. It is contemplated that towels of
the present invention may have any single or multiple combinations
of the depicted embodiments. For example, a towel according to the
embodiment of FIG. 8 may have a single opening on each end (the
above described uppermost, outermost subquadrant) selected from any
one of the four depicted openings. Alternatively, the towel may
have more than one opening on each of the uppermost outermost
subquadrants chosen from the openings depicted.
[0041] The securing means may be any acceptable manner for securing
the towel to the proximal portion of the arm of a user. This may
include, but would not be limited to, a cavity, a cloth strap, the
cloth may be a flexible piece of cloth material such as elastic, a
hoop strap that may be made of cloth, elastic, plastic, leather or
any other desired material.
[0042] Each of FIGS. 4-15 and 17 show a horizontal view of towel
25. Above each Figure is a top view along top edge 13. The left of
each horizontal view has a left side view along side 12. The right
of each horizontal view is a right side view along side 11. Below
each horizontal view is a bottom edge view along side 14.
[0043] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, first oval cavity 30 and
second oval cavity 31 are available for a user to place an arm
therethrough.
[0044] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, first oval cavity 32 and second
oval cavity 33 are angularly oriented in the upper most outermost
subquadrant as described above.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows a centrally placed cavity 34 that is ornamental
and not used or required to physically support towel 25.
[0046] FIG. 7 shows first triangular cavity 35 and second
triangular cavity 36 positioned in the upper most outermost
subquadrant of towel 25.
[0047] FIG. 8 shows oval cavities 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, and 43 that
all depict possible orientations of the securing means on the
towel. The securing means may be horizontal, as oval cavities 38
and 42; vertical as oval cavities 37 and 41; or angular as oval
cavities 39 and 43. Additionally, triangular cavities 40 or 44 may
be the securing means. In one embodiment, the towel may have any
one pair or more of the securing means shown in FIG. 8.
[0048] FIG. 9 shows a strap 45 that is not a securing means but may
be used for carrying towel 25.
[0049] FIG. 10 shows horizontal oriented straps 47 and 49; vertical
oriented straps 46 and 50; and angular oriented straps 48 and 51.
In one embodiment, the towel may have any one pair or more of the
securing means shown in FIG. 10.
[0050] FIG. 11 shows straps 52 and 53 secured along the upper
horizontal edge 13 of towel 25.
[0051] FIG. 12 shows straps 54 and 55 secured adjacent the upper
horizontal edge 13 of towel 25.
[0052] FIG. 13 shows straps 56 and 57 secured along the upper
horizontal edge 13 of towel 25.
[0053] FIG. 14 shows horizontal oriented straps 59 and 61; vertical
oriented straps 58 and 62; and angular oriented straps 60 and 63.
In one embodiment, the towel may have any one pair or more of the
securing means shown in FIG. 14.
[0054] FIG. 15 shows a strap 64 that is not a securing means but
may be used for carrying towel 25.
[0055] FIG. 17 shows a towel 25 that may have a plurality of
openings 65. Although the openings are shown around the entire
perimeter of towel 25, openings may be constructed and arranged
around any portion of the perimeter. Openings 65 may be used for
insertion of any securing means. As shown in FIG. 18, openings 65
may be used for attachment of securing means, or to secure
additional towels one to another.
[0056] FIG. 19 shows various embodiments for attaching securing
means to towel 25. Angular connectors 75 and 76, each with
respective cavities 74 and 77 are attached to towel 25. Triangular
connectors 78 and 80, each with respective cavities 79 and 81 are
attached to towel 25
[0057] Vertical connectors 82 and 84, each with respective cavities
83 and 85 are attached to towel 25.
[0058] Horizontal connectors 86 and 8, each with respective
cavities 87 and 89 are attached to towel 25.
[0059] In one embodiment, the securing means is arranged and
configured such that one arm is placed through the first securing
means, the towel is wrapped around the torso (as defined on page 8)
of the user, and the same arm is placed through a second securing
means.
[0060] As shown in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 11, 13, and
14, the securing means may be placed along the perimeter or edge of
the towel.
[0061] FIG. 16 shows depictions of the various securing means that
may be used. Also shown in FIG. 16 are first hook 80 second hook 82
joined with connector 81. An embodiment, as seen in FIG. 19 has
first hook 82 attaches to towel 25 by passing through hole 65.
First hook 82 is connected to second hook 80 by connector 81.
Second hook 80 is then connected to a second towel 25.
Alternatively, first hook 82 may pass through hole 65 and directly
connect to a looped terminal end of strap 69.
[0062] Alternatively, as seen in FIGS. 17 and 18, the towel may
have a receiving portion for receiving an attaching means. Although
FIG. 17 shows a plurality of receiving holes around the entire
perimeter, it is also contemplated that one embodiment may include
receiving portions on only a portion or portions of the
perimeter.
[0063] The embodiments shown in FIG. 19 show the attaching means
may be part of or connected to, a second member that is attached to
the main body of the towel. In the embodiments of FIG. 19, the
attaching means is still on or attached to the uppermost outermost
subquadrant as described herein.
[0064] In one embodiment, the two securing means may encompass an
additional opening or strap and the like, looking similar to the 2
outer securing means such as those shown in FIGS. 6, 9, and 15.
This would be located along the center top line of the main body
either on or adjacent to one top edge of the main body or across
the length of the body in between the two outer holes.
[0065] This additional opening would not be needed to secure the
towel to the user. It is an available option for aesthetic reasons
only.
[0066] In the embodiments of FIG. 20, two towels 25 may be worn
together by either overlapping openings or by connecting two towels
along an edge.
[0067] While the invention has been described in its preferred form
or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood
that this description has been given only by way of example and
that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication,
and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *