Nofly beach towel

Abstract

The invention is a wind resistant beach towel that is easy to manufacture, relatively easily cleaned using conventional laundering equipment, and is adaptable to a range of wind conditions. The beach towel is made of a towel fabric material having a length and a width; a first set of paired fastening snaps aligned along an edge of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material is folded over forming an elongate compartment, a second set of paired fastening snaps aligned along an opposing edge of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material is folded over forming an opposing elongate compartment; a first elongate weighted sleeve that is substantially filled with particulate or pellet-like material, wherein the first weighted sleeve is sized as to be secured by the elongate compartment; and a second elongate weighted sleeve that is substantially filled with particulate or pellet-like material, wherein the second weighted sleeve is sized as to be secured by the elongate opposing compartment. The weighted sleeves are made of a substantially impervious material that can be easily cleaned, such an extruded plastic or a fabric coated with a protective coating. The particulate or pellet-like fill material is preferably sand.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally a beach towel that is wind resistant, and more particularly to a wind resistant beach towel that can be easily cleaned using conventional laundering, where the beach towel does not contain pockets that can collect sand and detritus, and the beach towel does not have attachments that can be easily fouled or that interfere with laundering.

2) Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,906 to Roberts teaches a beach blanket with sand filled pockets. The beach blanket has a rectangular shape and four comers have a right-triangle pocket at each corner. Each corner can receive and temporarily hold a quantity of sand for anchoring the blanket.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,659 to Gary Camp teaches another beach towel that has pockets that can be loaded with sand. Additionally, the corners have loops, which can be attached to stakes. The pockets in each of the four comers have a cloth-closing attachment means, such as zippers and Velcro are specifically mentioned. The loops are used to invert the pocket, which is then filled with sand, closed, and then re-inverted.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,618 to Greer et al. teaches a weighted towel. A hidden weighted cord is sewn into the perimeter of the towel. The invention also teaches that a bag can be attached to one edge of the towel using Velcro. The perimeter cord of weights is not removable, but is a part of the towel as the chord is stitched into place.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,411 to King Wong teaches a sand pocket beach blanket. The invention is a blanket/beach towel that can be weighted or anchored using sand, which is added to pockets formed by a Velcro closure. The pockets are formed on the comers of the blankets.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,467 to Sean Hunt teaches a beach towel with pockets. The invention teaches a beach towel very similar to the one previously described by King Wong, with the exception that in addition to the anchoring pockets using the sand there is a series of closeable envelopes for carrying sunscreen, clothing items, entertainment items, etc. Of course, these envelopes can also be filled with sand to add additional weight.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,131 to Kevin Kilby teaches a beach blanket assembly. The beach blanket has a flap member that can be folded over forming a hem using a fastener strip 16. Sand is filled into the pocket formed when the flap is folded over. The main inventive concept of this beach towel is a pillow 18 that can be filled with a liquid or a refrigerant gel.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,229 to Douglas Eberhart teaches a pocketed beach towel. This invention is similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,467 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,411 in that the comers of a rectangular beach towel have pockets in which a weight in a sealed package, for instance, a zip lock storage bag filled with sand, is positioned within each of the pockets to hold the comers of the towel down. The pockets have a closing means, such as Velcro.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,807 to Don Battistella teaches a beach towel with a detachable pillow and carrying case having pockets. The beach towel has two sets of ties/binding cords 7 which can be used to attach the towel to a chair or to secure the towel in a roll-up position, as the case with the instant invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,862,876 to James Graves teaches a protective edge weighted cover cloth, which has continuous flexible weight secured along at least two opposed edges for securing the towel against wind blowing, etc. In a modification, as shown in FIG. 6, a cover having a tube extended along its edge is filled with a weighted material 62, where weighted material is sand. The tube extends along the length of an edge of the cover 60 and is fastened by a means of a plurality of snap fastener 63, which secure the tube to the edge of the cover/towel.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,536 to Tina Connors teaches a wind-resistant beach towel. The beach towel is made of ordinary machine-washable fabric, and has a series of pockets along the perimeter, which can secure a weight. Additionally, there is a pocket for a pillow 3, which is secured to the towel with Velcro.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,430 to Douglas Nicoll teaches a weighted beach blanket. The perimeter of the beach blanket has a fold-over panel, which forms a hem. The hem constitutes a retaining pocket 14 for securing an anchoring device. The anchor device includes a non-metallic tube extending continuously through the reinforced retaining pocket, and the tube has a plug in which liquid can be pumped into the tube. Stated more simply, in essence, the perimeter of the towel has a hose that can be filled with water and drained as required.

International Publication No. WO 03/103462 A1 to Tina-Marie Rusinak-Connors teaches a Pocketed Beach Towel With Pillow and Straps. Tina-Marie Connors is the same inventor named in U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,536. Similar to her prior patent, this invention is a beach towel with closeable pockets located at each of the four comers for receiving sand or some other type of weight. Additionally, there are other pockets for storing personal items, a location for a removable pillow. The disclosed beach towel also ties.

What is needed is a wind resistant beach towel that can be easily cleaned using conventional laundering, where the beach towel does not contain pockets that can collect sand and detritus, and the beach towel does not have attachments, such as hook and loop fasteners, that can be easily fouled or that interfere with laundering. Hook and loop fasteners have a high adherence to many needled fabrics, such as terry cloth, which is one of the more preferred towel fabrics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a wind resistant beach towel that is easy to manufacture, relatively easily cleaned using conventional laundering equipment, and is adaptable to a range of wind conditions. The beach towel is made of a towel fabric material having a length and a width; a first set of paired fastening snaps aligned along an edge of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material is folded over forming an elongate compartment, a second set of paired fastening snaps aligned along an opposing edge of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material is folded over forming an opposing elongate compartment; a first elongate weighted sleeve that is substantially filled with particulate or pellet-like material, wherein the first weighted sleeve is sized as to be secured by the elongate compartment; and a second elongate weighted sleeve that is substantially filled with particulate or pellet-like material, wherein the second weighted sleeve is sized as to be secured by the elongate opposing compartment. The weighted sleeves are made of a substantially impervious material that can be easily cleaned, such an extruded plastic or a fabric coated with a protective coating. The particulate or pellet-like fill material is preferably relatively inexpensive, environmentally safe, and has a density that is at least as high as water. Sand is especially suitable, but other materials, such as glass or steel pellets or ball bearings, are suitable. Lead shot would be less desirable because of the potential environmental and health hazards, but because of its high density may also be used in the sleeves for towels requiring high wind resistance. When any given pair of snaps are fastened, the associated towel fabric material clamps around the circumference of the sleeve, and the clamping tends to squeeze away some of the fill material in the sleeve, thereby creating an annular recess that segments and secures the sleeve. The invention is further comprised of a set of ties extending from an end of the towel. The ties can be used to secure the towel to a chair, and to secure the beach towel when it is folded or rolled up. The towel can additionally have a ply of material stitched to the towel fabric material, where the ply of material creates a pillowcase for receiving and retaining pillows and air cushions. The case, of course, can alternatively be utilized for carrying and storing beach accoutrements and paraphernalia, such as clothes, wallets, keys, additional towels, electronics, lotions, sun glasses, books and magazines, toys, etcetera. The preferred snaps have a composition of a durable plastic, wherein the durable plastic has a melting point well above the air temperature of conventional clothes dryers. The wind resistant beach towel can be laundered in conventional washing machines and driers. Typically, prior to washing the weighted sleeves are removed, and then replaced after drying. Under windy conditions one or both of the elongate compartments are fitted with the weighted sleeves.

Two or more beach towels can be fastened together in a head-to-tail fashion configuration, an end-to-end configuration or in side-by-side overlapping configuration, by using the snaps on one towel to connect to the snaps on a second towel. The resulting inter-towel compartment could optionally contain 0 to 2 weighted sleeves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects will become more readily apparent by referring to the following detailed description and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal planar view of the invention, a wind resistant beach towel that does not fly away when impinged by wind;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the wind resistant beach towel illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the sectional line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of the opposing edge shown in FIG. 2, that illustrates a cross-sectional view of an opposing elongate compartment, wherein the fastened snaps have pulled the folded towel material around the circumference of the weighted sleeve;

FIG. 4 is a frontal planar view of the wind resistant beach towel illustrating the configuration of the snaps, the positioning of the weighted sleeve, and the ties;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wind resistant beach towel illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the sectional line 5-5, wherein the elongate compartments have been opened for inserting the weighted sleeves;

FIG. 6 is an expanded view of the opposing edge shown in FIG. 5, that illustrates a cross-sectional view of an opposing elongate compartment, wherein the snaps have been unsnapped;

FIG. 7 is a frontal planar view of the wind resistant beach towel illustrating the pillowcase, and that after a weighted sleeve has been clamped in the elongate compartment the weighted sleeve takes on a segmented shape having annular recesses;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the wind resistant beach towel illustrated in FIG. 8, taken along the sectional line 8-8, wherein a cushion has been inserted into the pillowcase;

FIG. 9 is an overhead view of the wind resistant beach towel rolled up;

FIG. 10 is a planar view of a weighted sleeve, which can be opened and filled with a particulate or pellet-like material;

FIG. 11 is a planar view of a weighted sleeve, which is sealed closed with a particulate or pellet-like material;

FIG. 12 is a planar view of two wind resistant beach towels connected end-to-end, wherein the opposing ends of the first and the second beach towels are coupled using snaps that have an alternating male-female configuration; and

FIG. 13 is a planar frontal view of two wind resistant beach towels that are over-lappingly connected side-by-side using alternating snaps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the invented wind resistant beach towel 10 is made of a towel fabric material 28 having a length and a width 8. A first set of paired fastening snaps 14 is aligned along an edge 24 of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material 28 is folded over forming an elongate compartment 30. A second set of paired fastening snaps 16 is aligned along an opposing edge 26 of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material 28 is folded over forming an opposing elongate compartment 32. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is a first elongate weighted sleeve 20 and a second elongate weighted sleeve 20 that are substantially identical. As shown in FIG. 3, the weighted sleeves are sized and are secured by the elongate compartments, 30 and 32. The weighted sleeves 20 are made of a substantially impervious material that can be easily cleaned, such an extruded plastic or a fabric coated with a protective coating. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the wind resistant beach towel 10 has a folded length 4 of 84 inches, with two 3 inches fold-over elongate compartments, leaving a usable length of 78 inches. As shown in FIG. 4 the total length 7 of beach towel material 28 is 90 inches. The unfolded length 3 of the compartment is 6 inches. In the drawing the open elongate compartment 32 is being fitted with a weight sleeve 20. The weighted sleeve 20 is placed adjacent to an in-board half of the set of pairs fastening snaps 16b, as shown in FIG. 6. The complementing half of the set of pairs fastening snaps 16a is then fastened to the 16b half of fastening snaps. The fastenable snaps are preferable made of plastic so as to resist rusting. The plastic is selected so as to have a melt temperature that is significantly higher than the air temperature of conventional clothes dryers. Nylon is known to be suitable as a material for fastening snaps

The beach towel material 28, attached to the snaps 16, clamps the circumference of the weighted sleeve 20, causing some of the fill material 21 to be displaced inside the sleeve away from the clamping force. The clamping action causes the weight sleeve to take on a segmented shape having annular recesses, as shown in FIG. 7. The impervious material 19 forming the sleeve essentially follows the contour of the snaps. The impervious material 19 of the weighted sleeve 20 is preferably an extruded plastic bag, and the fill material 21 is preferably sand. The extruded plastic bag 20 can be easily cleaned with a simple wipe down of a damp cloth, and is very inexpensive. The weighted sleeve preferably weighs between 1 lb and 10 lbs. A sleeve filled with sand 21 for a towel having a width of about 36 inches weighs around 2 lbs. Two 2 lb sleeves are generally of sufficient weight to prevent the towel from flying in the wind. For heavier sleeves the imperious material 19 is preferably comprise of a coated fabric for the additional strength.

The invented towel 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8, has a ply of material 18 stitched to the towel fabric material. The ply of material 18 creates a pillowcase for receiving and retaining pillows and air cushions. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the wind resistant beach towel illustrated in FIG. 8, taken along the sectional line 8-8, wherein a cushion has been inserted into the pillowcase 18. The pillowcase 18 can also be utilized as a carrying case for paraphernalia. In the illustrated embodiment the towel material and 28 and the pillowcase 18 are both made from terry cloth.

The invented wind resistant beach towel 10 has ties, 12a and 12b, for securing the towel to a chair and for securing it when it is rolled up. As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, the ties 12 (12a and 12b) are tethered to a back left side 12b of the towel fabric material, and a back right side 12b of the towel fabric. FIG. 9 is an overhead view of the wind resistant beach towel rolled up, and illustrates how they 12 can be wrapped around the towel 10 and tied together, thereby preventing the towel from unrolling.

The weighted sleeve 20 can be either sealed or capable of being opened. Referring to FIG. 10, weighted sleeve 20a can be opened and filled with a particulate or pellet-like material like sand 21 as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 11 the weighted sleeve 20b is sealed, and cannot be opened without tearing or cutting the impervious material 19.

FIG. 12 illustrates how two wind resistant beach towels, 10 and 10′, can be connected end-to-end, wherein the opposing ends of the first and the second beach towels are coupled using snaps 16 that have either an alternating male-female or a universal snap configuration. The elongate compartment 30 has a weighted sleeve, and the elongated compartment 30′ has a weighted sleeve. Open opposing elongate compartments (32 and 32′ not shown) on towels 10 and 10′ are facing each other, and the snaps are fastened forming an inter-towel compartment 31. The inter-towel compartment can secure up to two weighted sleeves. A second configuration of how two or more beach towels can be combined is shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 3, two wind resistant beach towels, 10 and 10′, are over-lappingly connected side-by-side.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and specific embodiments are merely illustrative of the best mode of the invention and the principles thereof, and that various modifications and additions may be made to the apparatus by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, which is therefore understood to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wind resistant beach towel that can be easily cleaned, said towel comprising:

a towel fabric material having a length and a width;

a first set of paired fastening snaps aligned along an edge of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material is folded over forming an elongate compartment;

a second set of paired fastening snaps aligned along an opposing edge of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material is folded over forming an elongate opposing compartment;

a first elongate weighted sleeve that is substantially filled with particulate or pellet-like material, wherein said first weighted sleeve is sized as to be secured by the elongate compartment; and

a second elongate weighted sleeve that is substantially filled with particulate or pellet-like material, wherein said second weighted sleeve is sized as to be secured by the elongate opposing compartment.

2. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 1, where said second elongate weighted sleeve is comprised of a substantially impervious material that can be easily cleaned.

3. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first elongate weighted sleeve is comprised of a substantially impervious material that can be easily cleaned.

4. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 2, where said particulate material is sand.

5. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said particulate material is sand.

6. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first set of paired fastening snaps, when fastened, clamp the first elongate weighted sleeve with sufficient force to partially segment the first elongate weighted sleeve, and thereby prevent movement of the weighted sleeve within the first elongate compartment.

7. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second set of paired fastening snaps, when fastened, clamp the second elongate weighted sleeve with sufficient force to partially segment the second elongate weighted sleeve, and thereby prevent movement of the weighted sleeve within the second elongate compartment.

8. A wind resistant beach towel according to claim 1, wherein said beach towel is further comprised of ties for securing said beach towel when it is rolled up or for securing said beach towel to a chair.

9. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said ties are a first pair of straps of cloth and second pair of straps of cloth, wherein the first pair is tethered to a back left side of the towel fabric material, and the second pair is tethered to a back right side of the towel fabric material.

10. A wind resistant beach towel according to claim 1, wherein said beach towel is further comprised of a ply of material stitched to the towel fabric material, wherein said ply of material creates a pillowcase for receiving and retaining pillows and air cushions.

11. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said pillowcase can alternatively be utilized as a carrying case for paraphernalia.

12. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said towel fabric material is terry cloth.

13. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said length of towel fabric material is 90 inches with a 3 inches fold-over for the first elongate compartment and a 3 inches fold-over for the second elongate compartment, with a span of 78 inches weighted on either end.

14. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said width of towel fabric material is 36 inches.

15. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first elongate weighted sleeve has a weight of 1 to 10 lbs.

16. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said second elongate weighted sleeve has a weight of 1 to 10 lbs.

17. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first elongate weighted sleeve has a weight of about 2 lbs.

18. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 17, wherein said second elongate weighted sleeve has a weight of about 2 lbs.

19. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first elongate weighted sleeve and second elongate weighted sleeve can be opened and re-closed.

20. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first elongate weighted sleeve and second elongate weighted sleeve are sealed.

21. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second set of snaps have a composition of a durable plastic, wherein the durable plastic has a melting point well above the air temperature of conventional clothes dryers.

22. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said beach towel can be washed and dried using conventional laundry equipment.

23. A method of caring a beach towel that is resistant to wind, said method comprised of:

providing a towel comprising: a towel fabric material having a length and a width, a first set of paired fastening snaps aligned along an edge of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material is folded over forming an elongate compartment, a second set of paired fastening snaps aligned along an opposing edge of the width, wherein, when fastened, the towel fabric material is folded over forming an elongate opposing compartment, a first elongate weighted sleeve that is substantially filled with particulate or pellet-like material, wherein said first weighted sleeve is sized as to be secured by the elongate compartment, and a second elongate weighted sleeve that is substantially filled with particulate or pellet-like material, wherein said second weighted sleeve is sized as to be secured by the elongate opposing compartment;

cleaning the towel by unsnapping the fastening snaps, removing and wiping down the weighted sleeves, laundering the beach towel, repositioning the weighted sleeves, folding over the edges of the width of the towel and fastening the snaps.

24. The wind resistant beach towel, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said beach towel is connected to not less than one other similar wind resistant beach towel.