CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims benefit of the U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/348648 filed May 26, 2010 titled :Towel, by the same inventor and also claims benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/430100 filed Jan. 5, 2011 also titled Towel and by the same inventor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field The present invention relates to a towel designed with features for use in the gym and at the beach.
2. Related Background Art
Towels are used ubiquitously at the beach and gym. They are used as mats or blankets to lie upon during sunning or exercise and used to dry off both water and perspiration as well as used to wipe perspiration and grime off exercise equipment. Towels are also used to locate and hold personal belongings such as sunglasses and car keys while exercising, swimming, strolling the beach, etc. A variety of towels exist that include features such as pockets, carrying straps, multiple layers that prevent contamination from one side of the towel to the other and the ability to be folded into a self-contained carrying pouch. Although many useful features exist , no single design has yet to strike upon the right combination of features implemented in such a manner as to capture the consuming publics attention. Deficiencies in prior designs include straps that although useful during transport are unwieldy during use, zipper pouches that are useful for holding personal items but are unsightly, have zippers prone to contamination and are sources for irritation when the towel is used for a drying and or lounging and missing features that aid in maintaining the security of the towel itself and the belongings of the user when stored within the towel. There is still a need for a towel design that addresses these deficiencies while at the same time is economical and easy to manufacture.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A new towel design is shown that addresses the aforementioned deficiencies. In one embodiment a multilayer towel structure is disclosed that prevents cross contamination from one towel surface to the opposite, while still providing a towel with the flexibility and feel to be comfortable when used to wipe one's face. In another embodiment the towel surfaces are labeled with indicia to indicate the intended purpose of either side of the towel. Another embodiment includes closable pockets designed in such a fashion to avoid contamination of the closure mechanism while maintaining a low profile so that the closures do not scrape or abrade when using the towel for wiping either the users body or equipment. In another embodiment the towel design includes a carrying strap that is retractable into a pocket such that the strap is available during transportation and for use to hang the towel on for example equipment while exercising yet can also be retracted such that it is unobtrusive when using the towel for wiping or as a mat for exercise or lounging. In another embodiment a security strap is integrated into the towel design to prevent the theft of the towel and associated personal items.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 includes front and back views of an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view cross section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of an embodiment of the invention showing a pocket and a multilayer structure.
FIG. 4 is a view of an embodiment showing a retractable carrying strap.
FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment showing additional pockets at corners of the towel.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a closure construction for a pocket embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing another embodiment of a closure construction for a pocket.
FIG. 8 is a view of an embodiment that includes a security strap.
FIG. 9 is a view showing application of the embodiment of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a view of an embodiment of the invention showing a rubber backing and straps for securing the embodiment when rolled.
FIG. 11 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 showing how the straps are used to secure the embodiment when rolled.
FIG. 12 includes front and rear views of an embodiment of the invention showing fastening strips for securing the embodiment about a cylindrical member.
FIG. 13 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 12 showing curvature of the embodiment prior to securing it around a cylindrical member.
FIG. 14 is a view of a pair of the embodiments of FIG. 12 showing them secured to the handlebars of an exercise machine.
FIG. 15 includes front and rear views of an embodiment of the invention showing fastening strips for securing the embodiment about a cylindrical member mounted on a post.
FIG. 16 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 15 showing curvature of the embodiment prior to securing it around a cylindrical member mounted on a post.
FIG. 17 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 15 showing it secured to the handlebars of an exercise machine.
FIG. 18 is a view of an embodiment wherein a security further includes a padlock to lock the pocket.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a towel construction is shown where the towel has a front face 101 and a rear face 102. The front face is covered with a material 103 that is suitable for contact with the skin. In a preferred embodiment the material is terry cloth. The rear face is covered with a material 104 that is suitable for wiping gym equipment. In another embodiment the rear face is covered with a material 104 that is suitable for contact with the ground. Nonlimiting factors that define suitability include dirt and water repellency, stain resistance, nonslip and tear strength. In one embodiment the materials 103, 104 are the same material. The front face is labeled with skin 105 and the rear face is labeled with gym 106. The labels provide the user with an indication that the front face is intended for contact with skin and may be used for wiping their face or other body parts and the rear face is intended for contact with gym equipment for wiping sweat and grime off the equipment both before and after usage. The indicators 105, 106 may further be used to indicate which side of the towel should be used for contact with equipment of floors, gym side, and which side should be used for contact with their body, skin side, when the towel is used as a mat or pad between the user and a floor or between the user and gym equipment. In another embodiment where the towel is intended for use at the beach the labels may be changed to indicate a side of the towel that is intended for contact with the skin and a side of the towel that is intended for contact with the sand or beach. Embodiments of the invention further include a pocket 107 preferably formed at one end of the towel the pocket having a closing means 108 located at the edge of the towel. Nonlimiting examples of closure means include zippers, hook and latch mechanisms, and mechanisms using interlocking thermoplastic parts as are now common on food storage bags.
FIG. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. The towel is comprised of an upper portion 201 and a lower portion 202. The upper portion includes a pocket 203 formed with an inner lining layer 204. The inner lining layer is covered with the outer towel material 205. The pocket is closed with a closing means 206 the variations in types of closing mean are as discussed above. The closing means is seen to be located in the edge of the pocket as shown such that the closing means would not interfere with the use of the towel surfaces 205, 210. The outer material 205 and 210 on the pocket and the outer material 207, 208 on the lower body of the towel are composed of material suitable for the types of surfaces to be contacted as was discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1 above. In a preferred embodiment the surface materials 205, 210 207, 208 are all composed of a terrycloth material as is typically used on towels. In an alternate embodiment the material on the front face of the towel defined by surfaces 205 and 208 is made of terry cloth and is suitable for wiping a user's face or skin and the material on the rear face of the towel 207, 210 is made of an alternate material more suitable for wiping equipment or contact with floors or ground or sand. Non-limiting exemplary alternate materials for the rear face of the towel include non-woven microfiber materials, canvas, vinyl, rubberized, and, nylon fabrics. The outer layers are seen to be separated by an inner lining 209. In a preferred embodiment the inner lining is composed of material that is highly flexible yet prevents migration of moisture from one towel face to the other. In a preferred embodiment the lining material 209 is a woven nylon cloth with a weave selected to be sufficiently tight to inhibit transfer of moisture from one side to the other and is sufficiently loose to ensure flexibility of the multilayer towel structure. Non-limiting exemplary alternative materials for the lining 209 include canvas, rubberized, and, vinyl fabrics. Similarly the lining of the pocket 204 is selected from materials that prevent moisture and dirt transfer from the outer surfaces 205, 210 to the interior of the pocket. In a preferred embodiment the pocket lining material 204 is the same maerial as used for the lining of the lower portion of the towel 209. In a preferred embodiment the pocket lining material is a woven nylon cloth with a weave selected to be sufficiently tight to inhibit transfer of moisture from one side to the other and is sufficiently loose to ensure flexibility of the multilayer towel structure. Non-limiting exemplary alternative materials for the lining 209 include canvas, rubberized, and, vinyl fabrics.
FIG. 3 provides an alternate view of the fabric structure embodiment of FIG. 2. The main body of the towel 301 is seen to be composed of three fabric layers 303, 304 and 305. In the preferred embodiment the fabric layers 303 and 305 are composed of the same terry cloth towel material and the the inner lining layer 304 is composed of a nylon material selected as described above. The towel embodiment further includes a pocket 302. The pocket having a closing means 306. Exemplary closing means have already been described. FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment where the closing means 306 is located in a face of the towel rather than in the edge of the towel as described in FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment the closing means is placed on the towel face that is not intended for wiping the users body. In another embodiment the closing means is placed on the towel face that is intended for wiping the user's body. In this alternative embodiment the face having no closing means is used to wipe equipment that may be scratched or otherwise harmed by a closing means.
Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. A towel is show that has a lower portion 401 and an upper portion 402. The upper portion 402 defining a pocket as has been previously described the pocket having a closing means 406. The embodiment further includes a carrying strap 403 that is comprised of a loop of string or cord material that passes through the towel pocket surface through holes 404. The strap if thereby partially located outside of the towel 403 and partially located within the pocket of the towel 405. The strap may therefore be easily stored within the pocket by pulling the portion 405 further into the pocket until a loop 403 is minimized. The strap may be lengthened for use either to carry the towel or to hang the towel on equipment when used by pulling on the external loop 403 and extending the strap from the pocket.
In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the strap is made of an elastic material and the loop within the pocket 405 is attached to a point 407 on the edge of the towel opposite the edge of location of the holes 404 such that the loop is required to be stretched upon pulling on the external loop 403 for use as a hanging or carrying strap and the strap will then automatically retract into the pocket when the tension is removed. Such a configuration obviates the need to open the pocket through the means 406 to retract the carrying strap.
Another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, includes a towel having a lower portion 501 and an upper portion 502. The upper portion includes a pocket formed as discussed above including a means to access the pocket 503. The means to access the pocket may be located on the face of the towel as shown in FIG. 5. The access means is designed to prevent contamination of the closure from dirt and moisture arising exterior to the towel surface as well as contamination of the towel surface from material that may be contained within the pocket. Embodiments of closure designs that enable these advantages are discussed below in conjunction with FIGS. 6 and 7. In another embodiment the access means is incorporated in the edge of the towel as discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 2. The present embodiment further includes pockets 504 located at the corners of the towel. The pockets may be located as shown as limited to two pockets on a single face of the towel. In another embodiment, not shown, the pockets are incorporated on both the front face and the rear face of the towel. Only the front face being shown in FIG. 5; the corner pockets incorporated in the rear face appearing the same as those shown. The corner pockets include a means to access the pockets 505. Non-limiting exemplary means to access the pockets include zippers and strips of hook and latch medium. The corner pockets are constructed similarly to the other pocket 502 and as previously discussed may include liner material to prevent pocket contents from contaminating the surface of the towel. The access means for the corner pockets may be located on the surface of the towel 505 as shown or on the side edges 506, 507 or on the bottom edge 508. For pockets located at all four corners of the towel the equivalent embodiment for access means at the bottom location 508 would place the access means at the top edge of the towel. In one embodiment the access means located at the edges 506, 507, 508 are located on the face of the towel surface. These embodiments may further include the means to protect the closures from contamination as discussed in FIGS. 6 and 7 below. In another embodiment the closures located at the edges 506, 507, 508 use closure means incorporated in the edge of the towel as discussed in conjunction with FIG. 2 above.
In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, the closure means 607 is protected from contamination by materials external to the pocket 601. The embodiment also enables use of the towel surface 603 for wiping either person or machine without contact with the closure means 607. FIG. 6 shows a cross-section side view 616 and a surface view 617 of that portion of the towel that includes access to the pocket and the closure means. The pocket 601 is incorporated into a towel between towel surfaces 602 and 603. The pocket is composed of liner material 606. In a preferred embodiment the liner material is a moisture barrier material to prevent contamination of the interior of the pocket 601 from external moisture as well as protection of the exterior towel surfaces from contamination by the contents of the pocket. The liner material of the pocket may be the same liner material as that between the towel surfaces 605 to prevent contamination from one towel surface to the other. In another embodiment, not shown, the pockets are lined as indicated but the towel does not incorporate a liner material 605. i.e. feature 605 is absent. In another embodiment, the pocket is formed without a liner by stitching or otherwise fastening the towel surfaces together at points 610 and 611 to form a pocket within the towel that is not lined. The pocket is accessed through a slit 604 in the towel face, this slit having a width 618 and through a closure means 607, said closure means having a width 612.
An embodiment to protect the closure means from contamination includes an offset 608 of the center 615 of the opening in the towel surface 604 from the center 609 of the closure means 607. In a preferred embodiment the offset 608 is greater than ½ the width 612 of the closure means plus ½ the width 618 of the slit in the towel surface, equation (1). The closure means is thereby completely overlapped by towel face material 603 and contamination of the closure means is prevented. This parametric relation further precludes touching of the closure means to a user's body or a machine as the towel surface is used for wiping one or both.
FIG. 7 shows another embodiment that protects the closure means from contamination as well as providing a towel surface that may be used for wiping with avoidance of contact with the closure means.
In this embodiment, a pocket 701 is again formed between towel surfaces 702, 703. The pocket may be constructed as a lined pocket as shown or may be unlined as discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 6. The lining may be further extended 705 to act as a barrier to prevent contamination from one towel surface to the other. The opening in the towel surface 704 to access the pocket is offset as previously discussed from the center of the closure means 706. The embodiment of FIG. 7 further includes an additional material 707 that protects the closure 706 from both external contamination as well as from contact with the towel material itself 703. This extras closure cover material 707 not only provides an additional layer of contamination protection but also prevents snagging of the towel material in the closure means. Such snagging is common if the towel surface is composed of fabric that incorporates loops or pile such as terry cloth or other usual towel material that often interfered with the operation of closures that are zippers. The closure cover material may be made of the same material as the lining 705 or may be made of different material. In a preferred embodiment the closure cover material is the same material as the lining material and is nylon. Nonlimiting exemplary closure cover materials include nylon, cotton cloth, vinyl and woven polyester cloth.
FIG. 8 shows additional embodiments of the invention. A towel 801 is shown with the features already discussed of pockets and access means to the pockets. The towel has a lower area 802 and an upper area 803. The upper area 803 is sewn and lined so as to form a pocket. In another embodiment a pillow 804 is incorporated within the pocket 803. In one embodiment the pillow is an inflatable pillow. In another embodiment the pillow is composed of self inflating material such that the pillow is deflated with pressure to the pillow and then elastic spring forces that are a result of the material configuration result in self-inflation of the pillow. Such materials are known in the art and frequently used for camping material such as sleeping bag underlayment. In another embodiment the pillow is a foam material.
Another embodiment also shown in FIG. 8 further includes a security strap 806. The security strap is attached to the towel through an attachment means 805. In a preferred embodiment the security strap is a continuous loop of material and the attachment means is by threading the loop through a grommet 805 incorporated into the towel material. A different embodiment is shown in FIG. 18 wherein the security strap is a length of wire cable 1801 having eyelets at each end that engage a small combination lock 1803 that also secures the ends of dual zipper pulls 1805 on pocket 1807, thereby securing the contents of the pocket.
An embodiment showing the method of using the security loop is seen in FIG. 9. Towels 901 and 902 include security straps 904 and 905 respectively. The towels are secured in place by placing the support pole 903 of a beach umbrella through the center of the straps as the pole is pushed into the ground for placement and support of the umbrella. In this fashion a would-be thief is deterred from grabbing and running off with the towels as he would be required to also remove the beach umbrella support pole from the ground to take such an action. The theft would therefore be more visible to beachgoer witnesses and would slow the theft process. In another embodiment the towels are held in place through attaching the security loops through a stake that is driven in the ground. In another embodiment the towels are secured by attaching the security straps through pole are both secured in place through attachment to other objects; exemplary other objects including chairs, furniture, gym equipment and benches. In another embodiment theft is deterred by tying the security straps of several towels together such that a quick grab and run by a thief is made cumbersome by the volume of multiple towels. In another embodiment the theft of unoccupied towels is deterred by tying the security strap of an unoccupied towel to the security strap of an occupied towel.
FIG. 10 shows an embodiment wherein the towel has a front face 1001 and a rear face 1003 that are specifically suited to use as an exercise mat. The front face 1001 is covered with a material that is suitable for contact with the skin. In a preferred embodiment the material is terry cloth. The rear face 1003 is covered with a material that is suitable for providing a non-skid attachment to flooring material. In a preferred embodiment the material is a rubberized material. The embodiment includes a pocket 1005 closed with a closing means 1007 as taught in FIGS. 1 and 2. The embodiment also includes two straps 1009 that retract into the pocket, which are used to secure the embodiment when rolled for storage, as shown in FIG. 11.
FIG. 12 shows an embodiment wherein the towel has a front face 1201 and a rear face 1203 that are specifically suited to use as absorbent covers for the handles of exercise equipment. The majority of both front and rear faces are covered with a material that is suitable for contact with the skin. In a preferred embodiment the material is terry cloth. Additional strips of material are attached at the bottom of the front face 1207 and at the top of the rear face 1209 that adhere to each other when mated. A nonlimiting example of such adhering materials includes hook and latch materials. The placement of the adhering materials allows the embodiment to be secured about a cylindrical member. FIG. 13 shows the embodiment curled along one edge in preparation for securing it about a cylindrical member wherein the adhering materials 1207 and 1209 are brought into contact. FIG. 14 shows a pair of the embodiments secured around cylindrical members that are handlebars of an exercise machine 1401 in this nonlimiting example.
FIG. 15 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention comprising a pair of the embodiments of FIG. 12, each having a front face 1501 covered with a material that is suitable for contact with the skin and with adhering material strips 1507 at the bottom and a rear face 1503 covered with a material that is suitable for contact with the skin and with complementary adhering strips 1509 at the top, which are joined by a bridge region 1511 forming a slot 1513. FIG. 16 shows the embodiment curled along one edge in preparation for securing it about a cylindrical member attached to a post wherein the adhering materials 1507 and 1509 are brought into contact. Slot 1513 accommodates the post to which the cylindrical member is attached and bridge material 1511 covers the junction of the cylindrical member with the post. FIG. 17 shows the embodiment secured around cylindrical members attached to a post that are handlebars of an exercise machine 1701 in this nonlimiting example.
SUMMARY A new towel design is described. The towel includes novel features making it especially suitable for gym and beach use. The towel includes embodiments of a multi-layer structure, indicia to indicated purpose of one side and the other, pocket designs, pocket closure design, a retractable carrying strap, a security strap, closure designs that both help to protect contamination of the closure means as well as provide a smooth wiping surface over the top of the closure means and methods of using the towel in conjunction with security straps. Specific embodiments pertaining to application as an exercise mat and as absorbent covers for the handles of exercise equipment are also described.
