Toga Towel

Abstract

A toga towel and method for donning the same. The toga towel comprises a large piece of flexible sheet material that has an opening cut in an upper quadrant. The toga towel is wrapped around the torso of the wearer and the opening is used in a variety of ways to aid in securing the towel to the wearer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Ser. No. 60/988,566, filed Nov. 11, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to a toga towel, and more particularly to a toga towel with an opening, enabling the toga towel to be more securely held in place.

Prior to the present invention an individual would wear a large solid rectangular piece of cloth, wrapping it around him or herself as a covering or as clothing. However, these towels fall off easily and require a certain level of expertise to put on. They are also awkward and incapable of being removed or applied to the wearer quickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is directed to a toga towel comprising a sheet of flexible material and an opening in the sheet disposed entirely within a first upper quadrant of the towel.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of donning a toga towel having an opening disposed adjacent one corner of the towel. The method involves using the opening to secure the towel to the body of a wearer in a position in which the towel wraps around a torso of the wearer.

Other features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a toga towel of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the toga towel taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3F are sequential views illustrating how the toga towel of FIG. 1 can be donned;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a toga towel of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the toga towel taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6A-6D are sequential views illustrating how the toga towel of FIG. 4 can be donned.

Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings and specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the toga towel of this invention is designated in its entirety by reference number 10. The towel comprises a large piece of flexible sheet material such as terry cloth or other suitable material.

The towel 10 has an upper edge 12, a lower edge 14, a left edge 16 and a right edge 20. The towel 10 also has a central horizontal axis 22 extending midway between the upper and lower edges of the towel and a central vertical axis 26 extending midway between the left and right edges of the towel. The two axes 22, 26 divide the towel into four quadrants, namely, an upper left quadrant 28, an upper right quadrant 30, a lower left quadrant 32, and a lower right quadrant 36. The vertical axis 26 also divides the towel into a left half (upper and lower left quadrants 28, 32) and a right half (upper and lower right quadrants 30, 36). An arm opening 40 is located entirely in the upper right quadrant 30 of the towel. A binding 42 surrounds the opening. The binding 42 can be made of any general use fabric and preferably one that will not irritate the wearer's skin.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the towel 10 is generally rectangular and sized to fit a person wearing the towel. By way of example but not limitation, the towel may have dimensions of about 70 inches by about 39 inches to fit a person of ordinary height and weight (e.g., about 70 in. tall and about 160 lbs). These dimensions will vary according to the size of the person and the desired fit of the towel on the person. The opening 40 is generally circular and is sized to loosely receive a person's arm. By way of example, the opening 40 may have a diameter in the range of about four to eight inches. In one particular embodiment, the distance D1 between the upper edge 12 of the towel and the opening 40 is in the range of about one to eight inches and more preferably in the range of about two to four inches (e.g., about three inches), and the distance D2 between the right edge 20 of the towel and the opening 40 is in the range of about 8-25 inches and more preferably in the range of about 14-17 inches (e.g., about 17 inches). More generally, the distance D1 is in the range of about 1-20 percent of the overall height of the sheet and the distance D2 is in the range of about 10-35 percent of the overall width of the sheet.

FIGS. 3A-3F illustrate an exemplary method of donning the toga towel 10. As shown in FIG. 3A, the towel is first oriented such that the length of the towel is generally parallel to the ground with the opening 40 positioned for insertion of the wearer's right arm through the opening. The right arm is fully inserted into the opening until a right portion 45 of the towel (from the perspective of the wearer) is in contact with the front of the wearer's body and the remaining length of the toga towel is positioned such that a middle portion of the towel is behind the torso of the wearer and a left portion 51 of the towel is at the left side of the wearer (FIG. 3B). The left side of the towel is pulled across the front of the torso and lapped over the right portion of the towel. An upper free end corner portion 55 of the towel is then inserted through the opening 40, as shown in FIG. 3C. The towel is secured in position by pulling the corner portion 55 of the towel extending through the opening back across the front of the torso (FIG. 3D) and then tucking the corner portion 55 under a portion 61 of the towel extending over the right shoulder of the wearer, as shown in FIGS. 3E and 3F. It is anticipated that the towel may be donned in the opposite direction of that shown, i.e., with the wearer's left arm, rather than the right arm, inserted into the opening 40.

The arm opening 40 may have a shape other than that shown, such as oval or polygonal. Alternatively, the arm opening may be a slot or a slit to reduce the entry of sand or other material through the opening when the towel is placed on the ground.

Referring to the drawings and specifically to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second embodiment of the present invention is designated in its entirety by reference number 110. The towel has an upper edge 112, a lower edge 114, a left edge 116, and a right edge 120. The towel 110 also has a central horizontal axis 122 extending midway between the upper and lower edges of the towel and a central vertical axis 126 extending midway between the left and right edges of the towel. The two axes 122, 126 divide the towel into four quadrants, namely an upper left quadrant 128, an upper right quadrant 130, a lower left quadrant 132 and a lower right quadrant 136. An opening 140 is located entirely in the upper right quadrant 130 of the towel. A binding 142 surrounds the opening.

The materials and outer dimensions of the second embodiment are identical to those disclosed above. Unlike the embodiment disclosed above, the opening 140 of this embodiment is formed as a narrow opening or slit that is sized to receive an end of the towel. By way of example, the opening 140 may be a vertical slit having a length of about one to four inches (e.g., about two inches). In one particular embodiment, the distance D1 between the upper edge 112 of the towel and the top of the opening 140 is in the range of about one to eight inches and more preferably in the range of about two to four inches (e.g., about three inches), and the distance D2 between the right edge 120 of the towel and the opening 40 is in the range of about 8-25 inches and more preferably in the range of about 14-17 inches (e.g., about 16 inches). More generally, the distance D1 is in the range of about 1-20 percent of the overall height of the sheet and the distance D2 is in the range of about 10-35 percent of the overall width of the sheet.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate an exemplary method of donning the toga towel 110. As shown in FIG. 6A, the towel is first oriented such that the length of the towel is generally parallel to the ground and located behind the wearer. The right portion 145 of the towel containing the opening 140 is then wrapped around the front of the body of the wearer and the remaining length of the toga towel is positioned such that a middle portion of the towel is behind the torso of the wearer and a left portion 151 of the towel is at the left side of the wearer (FIG. 6B). The left portion of the towel 151 is pulled across the front of the torso and lapped over the right portion of the towel. An upper free end corner portion 155 of the towel is then inserted through the opening 140 as shown in FIG. 6C. The towel is secured in position by pulling the corner portion 155 of the towel through opening 140 until snug as shown in FIG. 6D.

It is anticipated that the towel may be worn in the opposite direction of that shown, i.e. the wearer orients the opening on his or her left side rather than the right side.

In other embodiments, the opening 140 may have a shape other than that shown, such as oval or polygonal. Likewise, in other embodiments the opening may have an orientation other than that shown, such as horizontal.

The toga towel of this invention may be used on the beach or at a pool, e.g., places where a beach towel would normally be used. The existence of the opening (40 or 140) allows the toga towel to be easily put on or taken off when entering or exiting the water. Further, the opening allows for the toga towel to be more securely fastened to the wearer so that accidental unwrapping does not occur.

While the invention is described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not the intent to limit the invention to this embodiment. On the contrary, it is the intent to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A toga towel comprising a sheet of flexible material, and an opening in the sheet disposed entirely within a first upper quadrant of the towel.

2. The toga towel of claim 1 wherein the sheet of fabric is rectangular.

3. The toga towel of claim 2 wherein the opening is surrounded by a binding.

4. The toga towel of claim 3 wherein the binding is made of a non-irritant fabric.

5. The toga towel of claim 1 wherein the fabric of the sheet is terry cloth or some other water absorbent fabric.

6. The toga towel of claim 1 wherein the opening is an arm opening.

7. The toga towel of claim 6 wherein the arm opening is generally circular.

8. The toga towel of claim 1 wherein the opening is a slit.

9. The toga towel of claim 8 wherein the slit is generally vertical.

10. The toga towel of claim 1 wherein the first upper quadrant is the right upper quadrant.

11. A method of donning a toga towel having an opening disposed adjacent one corner of the towel, said method comprising:

using the opening to secure the towel to the body of a wearer in a position in which the towel wraps around a torso of the wearer.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

fully inserting an arm into the opening until a portion of the towel is in contact with one side of the torso;

wrapping a remaining portion of the towel around the back, opposite side and front of the torso; and

securing the towel by inserting a corner portion of the towel opposite said one corner of the towel through the opening.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

wrapping a portion of the towel containing said opening around one side and front of the torso;

wrapping a remaining portion of the towel around the back, opposite side, and front of the torso; and

securing the towel by inserting a corner portion of the towel opposite said one corner of the towel through the opening.