Beach wrap
The invention is directed to a beach wrap or body covering garment that is easily wrapped and fixed about the body of a wearer so that the wearer can easily change clothes in a public place without being seen. The beach wrap comprises an elongated fabric piece having an exterior layer formed of a flexible water absorbing material and an interior layer formed of a water impervious material. The beach wrap is fixed about the body of the wearer by attaching together first and second attachment elements. The beach wrap has a pair of elongated slits spaced opposite each other and formed in the exterior layer of the fabric piece, wherein the elongated slits each form an elongated opening through the exterior layer and through the interior layer of the fabric to allow the wearer to conveniently insert and withdraw the wearer's arms when the body covering garment is fixed about the body of the wearer. Each slit has slit closure means. The beach wrap may further comprise at least one pouch formed of a water impervious material attached to the interior layer.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/498,505, filed Aug. 28, 2003, titled “Surf Rap”, currently pending.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a novel and nonobvious body covering garment that can be easily wrapped and fixed about the body of a wearer to cover the wearer's body and afford the wearer privacy for changing clothes in a public place while wearing the body covering garment. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a beach wrap within which a person may undress and dress in a public place without being seen by others.
Beach environments and public swimming pools are often lacking in sufficient or suitable changing facilities, and as a result, swimmers and surfers must attempt to change into and out of bathing suits and wetsuits under difficult conditions. Swimmers and surfers often wrap a regular beach towel around themselves while attempting to change into and out of bathing suits and wetsuits. However, this can be cumbersome, difficult, and lead to embarrassment if the beach towel becomes loose and falls off the wearer while the wearer is attempting to change. Another common method used by groups of swimmers and surfers is to take turns holding a towel or blanket around an individual who is changing. However, this method is ineffective and inconvenient and requires the time and cooperation of several individuals to carry out the job. In response to this problem, known body covering garments for use during changing clothes have been developed. However, such known body covering garments are often expensive to manufacture, cumbersome to use, unattractive, and do not allow for waterproof storage of an individual's personal items, such as keys, money, and wet swimsuits.
Accordingly, there is a need for a new and improved body covering garment or beach wrap that overcomes the problems associated with known body covering garments for changing in public places.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention satisfies these needs as well as provides a unique and advantageous body covering garment and beach wrap. The present invention can be used by swimmers, surfers, scuba divers, or anyone participating in a water sports or recreational activities. The beach wrap of the present invention is designed to stay securely in place around a person's body and allow a person to easily change into and out of a wetsuit, a bathing suit, or other clothing in a public place, such as a beach, without being exposed to others. The beach wrap of the present invention is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, is attractive, is easy to use, and allows for waterproof storage of an individual's personal items, such as keys, money, and wet swimsuits. The beach wrap of the present invention comes in various sizes and can be used by men, women, and children.
A version of the present invention is directed to a body covering garment or beach wrap that is easily wrapped and fixed about the body of a wearer. The body covering garment comprises: an elongated fabric piece having an exterior layer formed of a flexible water absorbing material and an interior layer formed of a water impervious material, wherein the interior layer is attached to the exterior layer and is substantially the same size and shape as the exterior layer; a first attachment element located on the exterior layer and a second attachment element located on the interior layer, wherein the body covering garment is fixed about the body of the wearer by attaching together the first and second attachment elements; a pair of elongated slits spaced opposite each other and formed in the exterior layer of the fabric piece, wherein the elongated slits each form an elongated opening through the exterior layer and through the interior layer of the fabric to allow the wearer to conveniently insert and withdraw the wearer's arms when the body covering garment is fixed about the body of the wearer; at least one slit closure means along the interior of each of the openings to allow the wearer to open and close the slits; and, may comprise at least one pouch formed of a water impervious material attached to the interior layer, wherein the pouch has a pouch closure. The first attachment element and the second attachment element may comprise cooperating hook and loop fabric attachment pads, i.e., Velcro. However, other suitable attachment elements may also be used. The slit closure means may also comprise cooperating hook and loop fabric attachment pads, i.e., Velcro. However, other suitable slit closure means may also be used.
In another version of the present invention, the body covering garment or beach wrap may further comprise additional attachment elements on the bottom of the beach wrap for fast and convenient body contouring of the beach wrap.
In another version of the present invention, the body covering garment or beach wrap may further include a hood secured to the fabric piece for engaging over the head of the wearer. This version is particularly preferable for children.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThese and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, where:
The present invention is directed to a novel and nonobvious body covering garment or beach wrap that is easily wrapped and fixed about the body of a wearer. The beach wrap of the present invention allows a person to undress and dress in a public place without being seen by others.
The beach wrap 10 further comprises a first attachment element 34 (
The beach wrap 10 further comprises at least two or a pair of elongated, reinforced slits 46, 48 (
The beach wrap may further comprise at least one closable pouch 56 (
The beach wrap may also comprise a separate or attached drawstring bag (not shown) made of the same or similar water resistant material as the interior layer or lining of the beach wrap, so that a user can store the beach wrap in the bag when not in use or store personal items if the user is wearing the beach wrap. The drawstring bag is preferably made of a water impervious or water resistant material such as nylon, plastic, neoprene, polypropylene, a combination thereof, or another suitable water resistant material. The drawstring bag is of a sufficient size to accommodate the beach wrap in a folded or unused state. The bag's drawstring will loosen or tighten as needed. The bag will also be of benefit when a user is done using the beach wrap and it is wet, so a user can place the wet beach wrap into the water resistant bag to avoid getting the user's car seats or other items wet. Once dry, the beach wrap can be stored in the drawstring bag as well. Preferably, the drawstring bag has a flotation element or device incorporated into the bag, so that if the bag is thrown or falls in the water, such bag will float on the surface of the water.
In another version shown in
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions of the invention are possible. In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein or to specific features shown, since the means and constriction shown, is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. It is also understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
Claims
1. A body covering garment easily wrapped and fixed about the body of a wearer, the body covering garment comprising:
- an elongated fabric piece having an exterior layer formed of a flexible water absorbing material and an interior layer formed of a water impervious material, wherein the interior layer is attached to the exterior layer and is substantially the same size and shape as the exterior layer;
- a first attachment element located on the exterior layer and a second attachment element located on the interior layer, wherein the body covering garment is fixed about the body of the wearer by attaching together the first and second attachment elements;
- a pair of elongated slits spaced opposite each other and formed in the exterior layer of the fabric piece, wherein the elongated slits each form an elongated opening through the exterior layer and through the interior layer of the fabric to allow the wearer to conveniently insert and withdraw the wearer's arms when the body covering garment is fixed about the body of the wearer;
- at least one slit closure means along the interior of each of the openings to allow the wearer to open and close the slits; and,
- at least one pouch formed of a water impervious material attached to the interior layer, wherein the pouch has a pouch closure.
2. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the garment further includes a hood secured to the fabric piece for engaging over the head of the wearer.
3. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the elongated fabric piece is of a unitary, substantially planar configuration.
4. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the exterior layer is made of terry cloth.
5. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the interior layer is made of nylon.
6. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the interior layer is made of neoprene.
7. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the interior layer is made of polypropylene.
8. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the first attachment element and the second attachment element comprise cooperating hook and loop fabric attachment pads, i.e., Velcro.
9. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the slit closure means comprises cooperating hook and loop fabric attachment pads, i.e., Velcro.
10. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the slit closure means comprises male and female snap fasteners.
11. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the slit closure means comprises a button and a cooperating button hole closure.
12. The body covering garment of claim 1 further including a drawstring bag being of a sufficient size to accommodate the body covering garment in a folded state.
13. The body covering garment of claim 1 wherein the fabric is of a sufficient size and shape to extend around the front and back of the wearer and of a sufficient length to extend down and cover at least part of the legs of the wearer.
14. A beach wrap for covering a user's body and affording the user privacy for changing clothes while wearing the beach wrap, the beach wrap comprising:
- a fabric piece having an exterior layer and an interior layer, wherein the interior layer is attached to the exterior;
- a first attachment element located on the exterior layer and a second attachment element located on the interior layer, wherein the beach wrap is fixed about the user and underneath armpits of the user by attaching together the first and second attachment elements;
- a pair of elongated slits spaced opposite each other and formed in the exterior layer of the fabric piece, wherein the elongated slits each form an elongated opening through the exterior layer and through the interior layer of the fabric to allow the user to conveniently insert and withdraw arms of the user when the beach wrap is fixed about the body of the user; and,
- at least one slit closure means along the interior of each of the openings to allow the user to open and close the slits.
15. The beach wrap of claim 14 further including at least one pouch formed of a water impervious material attached to the interior layer
16. The beach wrap of claim 14 further including a hood secured to the fabric piece for engaging over the head of the user.
17. The beach wrap of claim 14 wherein the exterior layer is made of a flexible, water absorbing terry cloth.
18. The beach wrap of claim 14 wherein the interior layer is made of water resistant nylon.
19. The beach wrap of claim 14 wherein the first attachment element and the second attachment element and the slit closure comprise cooperating hook and loop fabric attachment pads, i.e., Velcro.
20. A body covering garment easily wrapped and fixed about the body of a wearer, the body covering garment comprising:
- an elongated fabric piece having an exterior layer formed of a flexible water absorbing material and an interior layer formed of a water impervious material, wherein the interior layer is attached to the exterior layer and is substantially the same size and shape as the exterior layer, and further wherein the body covering garment has a hood secured to the fabric piece for engaging over the head of the wearer;
- a first attachment element located on the exterior layer and a second attachment element located on the interior layer, wherein the body covering garment is fixed about the body of the wearer by attaching together the first and second attachment elements;
- a pair of elongated slits spaced opposite each other and formed in the exterior layer of the fabric piece, wherein the elongated slits each form an elongated opening through the exterior layer and through the interior layer of the fabric to allow the wearer to conveniently insert and withdraw the wearer's arms when the body covering garment is fixed about the body of the wearer;
- at least one slit closure means along the interior of each of the openings to allow the wearer to open and close the slits; and,
- at least one pouch formed of a water impervious material attached to the interior layer, wherein the pouch has a pouch closure.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 14, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 3, 2005
Inventor: Maureen Flanagan-Frazier (Redondo Beach, CA)
Application Number: 10/891,761