U.S. patent application number 14/939551 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-19 for tie towel.
The applicant listed for this patent is Hartiwanger LLC. Invention is credited to Ernest Scott.
Application Number | 20160135518 14/939551 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55960543 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160135518 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scott; Ernest |
May 19, 2016 |
TIE TOWEL
Abstract
A tie towel may comprise a tie and a towel. The tie may comprise
a terry cloth belt of similar composition to a typical cotton
towel, or may comprise another material, for example, a
cotton/polyester blend or microfiber. The tie may also further
comprise an elastic material. The tie may be secured to the towel
by weaving the tie through loops on the towel or by other means for
securing the tie to the towel. The tie towel may be secured onto a
user's body by wrapping the tie around the body and attaching the
ends of the tie to one another by tying a knot or by other means
such as a buckle, buttons, a hook and loops, or Velcro.
Inventors: |
Scott; Ernest; (Boston,
MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hartiwanger LLC |
Boston |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55960543 |
Appl. No.: |
14/939551 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62079013 |
Nov 13, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/02 20130101;
A41D 7/008 20130101; A41D 2200/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 7/00 20060101
A41D007/00; A47K 10/02 20060101 A47K010/02 |
Claims
1. A wearable towel, comprising: a towel portion, a belt associated
with a top edge of the towel portion adapted to be secured around a
body, a means for attaching the belt to the top edge of the towel
portion, and a means for securing the belt around the body.
2. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching
the belt to the top edge of the towel portion comprises at least
two loops fixed to the top edge of the towel portion.
3. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching
the belt to the top edge of the towel portion comprises stitching
attaching the belt to the top edge of the towel portion.
4. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching
the belt to the top edge of the towel portion comprises a sleeve
across the top edge of the towel portion.
5. The wearable towel of claim 4 wherein the sleeve is formed by
folding the top edge of the towel portion and stitching the folded
towel portion to the remaining towel portion.
6. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for attaching
the belt to the top edge of the towel portion comprises a
mechanical attachment means, the mechanical attachment means
comprising one of Velcro, snaps and buttons.
7. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for securing
the belt around the body comprises loose ends of the belt being
wrapped around the body, the loose ends being adapted to be tied
together.
8. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for securing
the belt around the body comprises a buckle on one end of the belt
with the opposite end of the belt being pulled through the
buckle.
9. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for securing
the belt around the body comprises buttons on one end of the belt
and corresponding openings on the opposite end of the belt.
10. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for securing
the belt around the body comprises a hook on one end of the belt
which is secured to a loop on the opposite end of the belt.
11. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for securing
the belt around the body comprises corresponding male and female
snaps on the ends of the belt.
12. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the means for securing
the belt around the body comprises Velcro on both sides of the
belt.
13. The wearable towel of claim 1, wherein the belt further
comprises an elastic material.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/079,013 filed Nov. 13,
2014 entitled "Tie Towel" and incorporates its entire contents by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to towels used for
drying and/or temporarily covering the body, more particularly, to
a towel with a belt or other tie for securing the towel onto the
user's body such that it can be comfortably worn as a cover-up.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Towels for drying the body after bathing or swimming are
known in the art. A bath or beach towel is useful for drying the
body, but it cannot be comfortably worn as a cover-up because it
lacks a mechanism for securing the towel onto its user. A typical
towel can be worn by wrapping the towel around the body and tucking
a loose corner into its top edge, but tucking the corner may not
secure the towel to the user's body, for example, the towel may
become unsecured and fall off while standing, walking or sitting.
When wearing a standard towel as a cover-up, a user may hold the
towel with one hand to prevent the towel from falling. This is
inconvenient for a person who needs to use both hands while wearing
it, for example, when performing tasks at home after a shower or
changing into a swimsuit at the beach. Additionally, standard size
towels may not be the appropriate length for being worn as a
cover-up by all users.
[0004] Terry cloth bathrobes, also known in the art, solve the
problem of covering a user's body while absorbing excess water.
However, a bathrobe is difficult to use for drying the body because
of its shape, and a bathrobe's bulky sleeves make it is more
difficult to change clothes and perform other tasks while wearing a
bathrobe. Bathrobes are heavier and bulkier than towels, making a
bathrobe impractical for activities such as traveling, backpacking,
hiking, or camping where a towel is needed for both drying and
covering the body but the user has limited space to carry items.
For example, youth hostels do not usually provide towels for their
guests and youth hostels sometimes lack privacy for changing
clothes. Thus, a towel that can be worn as a securable cover-up is
needed.
[0005] A towel wrap is disclosed in published U. S. Patent
Application 2009/0106873 of Whiteside published Apr. 30, 2009. This
towel wrap is a piece of fabric with tie extensions attached to
each corner of its top edge and horizontal cutout openings spaced
along that edge near the corners. It is fastened by threading each
extension through a cutout opening on the opposite side of the
towel, then tying the loose ends in front. However, this towel wrap
does not fully cover its user in the front, and it does not
securely fit all different body sizes because of its fixed cutout
openings.
[0006] Another securable body covering with a strap system is
disclosed in published U.S. Patent Application 2012/0174284 of
Lugtu published Jul. 12, 2012. This covering has an adjustable
strap system with one strap portion extending from a corner of the
top edge and the other strap portion extending from midway along
that edge. The strap system is secured by a cooperative male and
female buckle and includes a loop for locking the towel to a bag or
locker. This invention is limited to lightweight fast drying
materials, and it is designed for athletes who need to quickly dry
off and cover their bodies, for example, after the swimming phase
of a triathlon. It is not ideal for home or spa use. This body
covering is only disclosed as securable around its user's waist,
making it less useful for women who must secure a towel around the
chest to wear it as a cover-up.
[0007] A multifunctional towel is disclosed in published U.S.
Patent Application 2001/0034890 of Levas published Nov. 1, 2011.
This invention is a towel which can be affixed to a waist belt with
an attached water resistant skirt. It is worn as an apron tied
around the waist in order to protect its user's waist and legs from
soiling while performing tasks. This towel cannot be worn as a
cover-up because it does not wrap all the way around the user's
body and it only covers the waist and upper legs.
[0008] Accordingly, there is a need for a towel with an adjustable
mechanism for securing the towel onto the user's body that can be
worn as a cover-up by men, women and children such that a person
can freely use both hands while wearing the towel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An embodiment of the present invention provides a wearable
towel comprising an absorbent towel and a belt for securing the
towel onto a user's body. The towel portion of the present
invention may comprise absorbent materials of different weights and
fabrics to accommodate different uses. For example, the towel
portion may be made from a light and compact fabric such as
microfiber for travel use, or a heavier and more absorbent fabric
such as cotton for home or spa use. The belt may be attached to the
towel portion by belt loops sewn into the towel portion, a sleeve
along the top edge of the towel portion into which the belt is
inserted, Velcro, a zipper, buttons, snaps, or any other means for
attaching the belt to the towel. The belt may be made of the same
fabric as the towel, or the belt may contain a soft elastic
material inside the belt. The belt may include a mechanism for
attaching/securing the towel around the user's body. The present
invention is adapted to be made in different sizes to fit most men,
women and children when worn as a cover-up.
[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism
for securing the towel onto its user's body comprises two or more
belt loops sewn along the top edge of a towel and a belt which is
threaded through the loops and is long enough to wrap around a
person. The belt is used to secure the towel onto its user's body
by wrapping it around the user and securing its loose ends.
[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, the belt is
attached to the towel by being sewn directly onto the long edge of
the towel with long sections of the belt extending out from the
towel's upper corners.
[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the top edge
of the towel is folded over and sewn to create a sleeve through
which the belt may be threaded, such that the belt may move freely
within the sleeve. The belt may be removed and washed separately
from the towel. A known pin and hook may be used to hook a free end
of the belt and pull the belt through the sleeve.
[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the belt is
attached to the towel by a fixing mechanism including but not
limited to Velcro, snaps, a zipper, or buttons.
[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the belt is
secured around its user's body by tying its loose ends in a knot or
a bow.
[0015] In another embodiment, the belt is secured around its user's
body with buttons sewn onto one end of the belt and button holes
cut into the opposite end of the belt.
[0016] In another embodiment, the belt is secured around its user's
body by pulling one end of the belt through a buckle on the
opposite end of the belt with the buckle holding the fabric of the
belt in place.
[0017] In another embodiment, the belt is secured around its user's
body with Velcro attached to the belt such that one end of the belt
can be secured to the opposite end.
[0018] In yet another embodiment, the belt is secured around its
user's body by attaching a hook on one end of the belt to one of
many loops along the opposite end of the belt.
[0019] Further features and advantages of the present invention, as
well as the structure and assembly by a user of the present
invention, are described in detail below with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0020] FIG. 1A and 1B depict a man wearing a tie towel as a
cover-up secured around his waist by tying the loose ends in a bow,
and a woman wearing a tie towel as a cover-up secured around her
chest.
[0021] FIG. 2 depicts a tie towel with loops attached to the towel
and a belt threaded through those loops.
[0022] FIG. 3 depicts a tie towel with a belt attached directly
onto the towel.
[0023] FIG. 4 depicts a tie towel with the top edge folded over and
sewn into the towel to form a sleeve, and the belt threaded through
that sleeve.
[0024] FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, FIG. 5D, AND FIG. 5E depict five
different embodiments of a mechanism for securing the belt around
its user's body. FIG. 5A depicts a belt secured by tying loose
ends. FIG. 5B depicts a belt secure by threading a loose end
through a buckle on the other end of the belt. FIG. 5C depicts a
belt that is secured with buttons. FIG. 5D depicts a belt that is
secured by hooks and loops. FIG. 5E depicts a belt that is secured
with snaps.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] An embodiment of the present invention provides a wearable
towel, comprising an absorbent towel in different sizes to fit men,
women and children, and a belt or tie for securing the towel onto
its user's body when worn as a cover-up. The invention may comprise
absorbent materials of different weights and fabrics to accommodate
different uses. For example, the invention can comprise a light and
compact microfiber towel for travel use, or it can comprise a
heavier and more absorbent cotton towel for use in the home or spa.
The belt can consist of the same fabric as the towel or a different
fabric. The belt may also contain an elastic material to further
secure the invention onto its user's body comfortable and stretch
as the wearer breathes, exercises, or otherwise causes the belt to
expand or contract.
[0026] FIG. 1A depicts a man 101 wearing a tie towel 103 with the
belt 105 wrapped around his waist and secured by tying the ends 106
and 107 of the belt in a knot at the front, for example, a
quick-release bow knot. FIG. 1B depicts a woman 102 on the right
wearing a tie towel 103 wrapped around her chest, with the belt 105
secured by an alternate means for fastening. The tie towel 104 is
depicted as comprising a towel portion 104 with an attached belt
105.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of the tie towel 203
with loops 208 attached to the top edge of the towel portion 204
and a belt 205 threaded through the loops 208. It should be noted
that the invention is not limited to two loops 208 as depicted in
FIG. 2, but can include any number of loops 208 attached along or
below the top edge 209 of the towel. As depicted in FIG. 2, the
belt has loose ends that are tied to secure the towel onto its
user's body. The name HARTIWANGER as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 5A, FIG.
5B, FIG. 5C, FIG. 5D and FIG. 5E is a trademark for clothing of
HARTIWANGER LLC of Boston, Mass.
[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the tie towel 303
where the belt 305 is attached directly onto the towel portion 304.
The belt 305 can be sewn or stitched directly into the towel
portion 305, or the belt 305 can be affixed onto the towel portion
304 using Velcro, snaps, buttons, or other means. FIG. 3 depicts
the towel portion 304 with dimensions corresponding to a standard
body towel's size, but the present invention is not limited to that
size. The invention encompasses towel portions 304 of different
sizes to fit men, women and children when worn as a cover-up. The
belt 305 is also not limited to the length depicted in FIG. 3.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the tie towel 403
where the top edge of the towel portion 404 is folded over and
attached to the towel portion to form a sleeve 409. The belt 405 is
attached to the towel portion 404 by threading the belt 405 through
the sleeve 409.
[0030] FIG. 5A through 5E illustrate alternate embodiments of the
belt with different means for securing the tie towel onto its
user's body. FIG. 5A depicts a belt 505 which secures the towel
onto a user's body by wrapping loose ends 506 and 507 around the
body and tying the loose ends. FIG. 5B depicts a belt 515 with a
buckle 517 and a loose end 516. In this embodiment, the towel is
secured onto its user's body by pulling the loose end 516 through
the belt buckle 517 to tighten the belt. FIG. 5C depicts a belt 525
that is secured onto its user's body with buttons 526 attached
along one end of the belt which are inserted into button holes 527
along the other end of the belt. FIG. 5D depicts a belt 535 with a
hook 537 attached to one end of the belt and loops 536 distributed
along the other end of the belt, with the belt being secured to a
user's body by placing the hook 537 into one of the loops 536. FIG.
5E depicts a belt 545 which is secured to a user's body with
corresponding male and female snaps 546 and 547 on either side of
the belt 545. The invention is not limited to the specific number
of buttons, loops, or snaps depicted in FIG. 5C, 5D, and 5E, but
can include any number of these items.
[0031] While various aspects of the present invention have been
described above, it should be understood that they have been
presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent
to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in
form and detail can be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present
invention should not be limited by any of the above described
exemplary aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with
the following claims and their equivalents.
[0032] In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the
attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology,
functionality and advantages of the present invention, are
presented for example purposes only. The present invention is
sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be
implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying
figures.
[0033] Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the
relevant art(s) who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or
phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the
nature and essence of this technical disclosure. The Abstract is
not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present
invention in any way.
* * * * *