TOWEL WITH RETAINING SLEEVE

Abstract

A decorative towel kit and a method of using the same. The kid includes a towel folded to form a front portion and a rear portion which are adjacent each other and generally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the towel; a sleeve removably engageable about an exterior surface of the folded towel such that the sleeve is disposed generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis; and a decal provided on the sleeve. The sleeve is wrapped around the towel when folded. The decal includes a decorative image and is removably engaged with the sleeve. The kit may include one or more towels, one or more sleeves, and one or more decals that may be used in a variety of combinations with each other.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/609,652, filed Mar. 12, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates generally to towels. More particularly, this invention relates to hand towels. Specifically, this invention is directed to a decorative towel kit that includes at least a towel, a sleeve that is wrapped about the towel when folded, and a decorative decal that is provided on the sleeve.

2. Background Information

It has become customary for decorative hand towels to be placed in bathrooms and kitchens to enhance the appearance of the room while still providing a useful function. People frequently enjoy changing the decorative towels to fit the season or to celebrate holidays such as Christmas or occasions like the Super Bowl. However, individual decorative hand towels can be quite expensive and therefore it is unlikely that a homeowner will own a large number of these towels or will want to purchase towels for every occasion.

There is therefore a need in the art for a decorative hand towel that is simple to use and is relatively less expensive to use to decorate than previously known towels.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention is a decorative towel kit and a method of using the same is disclosed. The kit includes a towel folded to form a front portion and a rear portion which are adjacent each other and generally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the towel; a sleeve which is removably engageable about an exterior surface of the folded towel such that the sleeve is disposed generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis; and a decal provided on the sleeve. The sleeve is wrapped around the towel when folded. The decal includes a decorative image and is removably engaged with the sleeve. The kit may include one or more towels, one or more sleeves, and one or more decals that may be used in a variety of combinations with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of a decorative towel kit which includes a towel, a sleeve and a decal in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the towel and sleeve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the towel and sleeve, where the sleeve is in an opened and unsecured position relative to the towel;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the towel and sleeve, where the sleeve includes a first decorative decal; and

FIG. 5a is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of a towel kit in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5b is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of a towel kit in accordance with the present invention.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 there is shown a towel assembly in accordance with the present invention, generally indicated by the reference number 10. Towel assembly 10 includes a towel 12 and a sleeve 14. Towel 12 is illustrated as hanging over a towel rack 16 such towel 12 is in a folded position hanging downwardly from towel rack 16. In this position, a front portion 12a of towel 12 hangs downwardly from a front region 16a of rack 16, and a back portion 12b of towel 12 hangs downwardly from a back region 16b of rack 16. Towel 12 could be decoratively folded so that the actual side edges of each of the front and back portions 12a, 12b are tucked inwardly toward each other. In this folded but hanging position, front and back portions 12a, 12b are disposed adjacent each other and are aligned with each other along a longitudinal axis “Y”. Towel 12 has bottom ends 12c, 12d (FIG. 2) and a top end 12e that are oriented at right angles to longitudinal axis “Y”. FIG. 2 shows bottom ends 12c, 12d horizontally aligned with each other but the may be located simply parallel to each other. In the attached figures the actual side edges of towel 12 are folded inwardly thereby presenting a longitudinal region of fabric as side edges 22, 24 and 26, 27. It should be noted that side edges 26, 27 are mirror images of sides 24 and 22. It will be understood that the actual side edges of the towel 12 could be in the locations represented by 22, 24 and 26, 27 without departing from the scope of the invention.

Towel 12 preferably is a hand towel made from an absorbent fabric but could be a larger towel such as a bath towel or kitchen towel.

Sleeve 14 is completely separate from towel 12 and is not fixedly secured to towel 12 in any way. Sleeve 14 preferably is manufactured from the same type of fabric as towel 12 but may be manufactured from a completely different fabric without departing from the scope of the present invention. Sleeve 14 preferably is a substantially rectangular length of fabric and, as shown in FIG. 3, having an exterior surface 14a, an interior surface 14b, a first end 14c, a second end 14d, a first edge 14e and a second edge 14f. A first fastener element 18 preferably is secured to exterior surface 14a proximate first end 14c of sleeve 14. A second fastener element 20 preferably is secured to interior surface 14b proximate second end 14d of sleeve 14 and is configured to cooperate with first fastener element 20 to form sleeve 14 into a generally tubular configuration. In this tubular configuration, sleeve 14 bounds and defines an aperture (not shown) through which the folded towel 12 extends.

In the attached figures first and second fastener elements 18, 20 are illustrated as cooperating hook and loop fastener strips but it will be understood that any other type of cooperating fastener elements may be utilized without departing from the present invention. For example, cooperating snap elements or buttons and cooperating apertures could be used instead of the hook and loop fasteners. Preferably, the first and second fastener elements 18, 20 are oriented so as to be substantially parallel to first and second ends 14c, 14d as this will ensure the formation of a relatively flat overlapping join between the two ends 14c, 14d of the sleeve 14, as will be hereinafter described. It will be understood that instead of overlapping each other, first end 14c and second end 14d of sleeve 14 may disposed in end-to-end relationship relative to each other and first and second fastener elements 18 and 20 may extend between first and second ends 14c, 14d in some manner to secure the first and second end together so that sleeve 14 has a tubular shape.

Sleeve 14 is engaged around the folded towel 12 in such a way that sleeve 14 is disposed generally at right angles to longitudinal axis “Y”. Furthermore, sleeve 14 is engaged around the folded towel 12 in such a manner that sleeve 14 keeps front portion 12a in abutting contact with portion 12b. Sleeve 14 is engaged around the folded towel 12 after the towel has been hung over towel rack 16 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1-3.

Referring to FIG. 3, a first region “A” of sleeve 14 is positioned adjacent rear portion 12b of towel 12. A second region “B” of sleeve is positioned adjacent side edges 22, 24 of front and rear portions 12b, 12a respectively. A third region “C” (FIG. 1) of sleeve 14 is positioned adjacent front portion 12a, a fourth region “D” is positioned adjacent side edges 26 (FIG. 1) and 27 (FIG. 3) and wraps around to overlap first region “A”. When fourth region “D” overlaps first region “A”, first and second fastener elements 18, 20 engage each other and hold sleeve 14 in position encircling the folded towel 12.

In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, a decorative decal 28 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is provided on sleeve 14. Decal 28 is illustrated as being located on third region “C” of sleeve 14 so that it is visible on front portion 12a to a user approaching the towel rack 16. Decal 28 may be fixedly secured to third region “C” during manufacture by sewing or by an adhesive, for example, or it may be removably secured to third region “C” by any suitable securing means, such as hook and loop fasteners. Decal 28 may include any type of image thereon. The decals 28, 28a, 28b, 28c may be themed such as for Christmas, Easter, Valentine's day, Halloween, for seasons or for sports teams, for example. Alternatively, the decals may be monograms, or photographs or indicia that will match the décor of either a kitchen or bathroom.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a first decorative towel kit that may be made available for purchase by a consumer. This first decorative towel kit includes a single towel 12, a single sleeve 14, and a single decal 28 provided on the sleeve 14.

FIG. 5a shows a second decorative towel kit 30 in accordance with the present invention. Second kit 30 comprises a single towel 12, a single sleeve 14 and a plurality of decals 28a, 28b, 28c that are selectively removably secured to sleeve 14. The user will place a first one of the decals 28a, for instance, on sleeve 14, and then engage sleeve 14 around the folded towel 12. Ata later date the user will detach decals 28a from sleeve 14 and replace it with decal 28b, for instance. The decals 28a, 28b may be attached or detached while sleeve 14 is on towel 12 or when it is removed therefrom.

FIG. 5b shows a third embodiment of a decorative towel kit 32 in accordance with the present invention. Third kit 32 comprises a single towel 12, a plurality of sleeves 14a, 14b, 14c, and a plurality of different decals 28a, 28b, and 28c. The decals 28a, 28b and 28c are selectively detachably engageable with any of the plurality of sleeves 14a, 14b, and 14c or may be fixedly secured to one of sleeves 14a, 14b, and 14c. Sleeves 14a, 14b, 14c may differ from each other in any way, such as being made from different fabrics or differently colored or patterned fabrics. In the instance where the decals are removably engageable with sleeves 14a, 14b, 14c, this third kit will be used in a similar manner to the first and second kits described above. In the instance where the decals are fixedly engaged with a specific sleeve 14a, 14b or 14c, the user will place a first sleeve 14a, for example, around the folded towel 12 and will later remove first sleeve 14a and replace it with a second sleeve 14b or 14c.

It will further be understood that other variations of a kit in accordance with the present invention are contemplated to fall within the scope of the present invention. For instance, the kit may include more than one towel, with one or more sleeves, and with one or more decals that are either fixedly secured or removably secured to the sleeves. It will further be understood that more than one decal can be engaged on a single sleeve. So, for example, in the preferred instance where the decals are detachably engaged with the sleeve 14, two or more decals could be applied to the sleeve in different arrangements to give the sleeve a selectively changeable aesthetic appearance. The additional towels and/or sleeves in the kit may be manufactured from different fabrics or from differently colored or patterned fabrics. The towels, sleeves, and decals differ in appearance from each other in some way. Other features such as scalloped top and bottom edges may be provided on sleeves 14, or elements such as ribbons can be applied thereto to enhance the appearance of sleeves 14. In the same manner, decals 28 can be provided with any range of decorative elements such as ribbons, glitter, shiny fabrics etc.

It will further be understood that the fastener elements 18, 20 may be replaced by permanently securing first and second ends 14c, 14d of sleeve 14 together and then slipping that so-formed tubular sleeve over both of the bottom ends 12c, 12d of front and back portions 12a, 12b of towel 12 and sliding the sleeve upwardly to a desired position between bottom ends 12c, 12d and towel rack 16.

When it is desired to use towel 12 or wash the same, sleeve 14 may simply be removed from its encircling position by undoing fastener elements 18, 20 or by sliding sleeve 14 off the bottom ends 12c, 12d of towel 12.

Because sleeve 14 is manufactured from fabric, it is flexible and can be easily placed around towel 12 and easily removed therefrom. The lower regions of towel proximate ends 12c, 12d can also be utilized without removing sleeve 14. Sleeve 14 is also separately washable. Sleeve 14 is used to hold towel 12 in a decorative folded fashion when hanging from a towel rack 16, thereby making the towel more aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

It will be understood that while the folded towel 12 is illustrated as hanging from towel rack 16, towel 12 could simply be folded so that the front and rear portions 12a, 12b are adjacent each other and aligned along a longitudinal axis and so that top end 12e of the folded towel 12 is disposed a distance from the bottom ends 12c, 12d. Sleeve 14 could be placed around the folded towel 12 in a location disposed somewhere between top end 12e and bottom ends 12c, 12d and oriented substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the folded towel. The folded towel 12 and sleeve 14 with decorative decal 28 could then simply be placed on a top surface of a bathroom vanity; if for instance, a towel rack is not available.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. In combination:

a towel folded to form a front portion and a rear portion which are adjacent each other and generally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the towel;

a sleeve removably engageable about an exterior surface of the folded towel such that the sleeve is disposed generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis; and

a decal provided on the sleeve.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is free of any attachments to the towel.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the decal is removably engageable with the sleeve.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is generally rectangular in shape and has an exterior surface, an interior surface, a first end, a second end, a first edge, and a second edge; and wherein the rectangular sleeve is formed into a tubular member around the folded towel.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the second end of the rectangular member is disposed in overlapping arrangement with the first end thereof to form the tubular member.

6. The combination as defined in claim 4, further comprising:

a first fastener element provided on the exterior surface of the sleeve proximate the first end thereof; and

a second fastener element provided on the interior surface of the sleeve proximate the second end thereof; and wherein the first and second fastener elements cooperate to releasably secure the first and second ends of the sleeve together.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein a first region of the sleeve is disposed adjacent the front portion of the towel; a second region of the sleeve is disposed adjacent a first side edge of the front portion of the towel and adjacent a first side edge of the rear portion of the towel; a third region of the sleeve is disposed adjacent the rear portion of the towel; and a fourth region of the sleeve is disposed adjacent a second side edge of the rear portion of the towel and adjacent a second side edge of the front portion of the towel.

8. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the towel is adapted to be folded over a horizontal towel rack such that a top end of the folded towel is disposed on a top surface of the towel rack, and a bottom end of the front portion and a bottom end of the rear portion are disposed a distance beneath a lower surface of the towel rack, and wherein the sleeve is engaged with the folded towel such that the sleeve is disposed around the exterior surfaces of the front and rear portions in a location beneath the bottom surface of the towel rack and above the bottom ends of the front and rear portions.

9. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is made from a flexible fabric.

10. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is made from the same fabric as the towel.

11. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the decal is fixedly secured to the sleeve.

12. A decorative towel kit comprising:

a first towel folded to form a front portion and a rear portion which are adjacent each other and generally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the first towel;

a first sleeve removably engageable about an exterior surface of the folded first towel such that the first sleeve is disposed generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis; and

a first decal that is detachably engageable with the first sleeve and wherein the first decal includes a front face and a rear face, and the rear face is configured to be disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the first sleeve, and the front face of the first decal includes a first decorative image thereon.

13. The kit as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

one or more additional decals that are detachably engageable with the first sleeve; and wherein each of the one or more additional decals includes a decorative image thereon which differs from the first decorative image on the first decal.

14. The kit as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

one or more additional sleeves that differ from the first sleeve in appearance.

15. The kit as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

one or more additional towels that differ from the first towel in appearance and which are folded in the same manner as the first towel and are engageable with the first sleeve having the first decal thereon.

16. A method of displaying a towel in a decorative fashion including the steps of:

folding the towel so that it forms a folded towel having a front portion that is disposed adjacent a rear portion, and the folded towel has a top end, a bottom end, a first side and a second side; and wherein the folded towel has a longitudinal axis that extends between the top and bottom ends thereof;

wrapping a generally rectangular sleeve around the folded towel such that a first region of the sleeve is adjacent the front portion of the folded towel, a second region of the sleeve is adjacent the first side of the folded towel, a third region of the sleeve is adjacent the rear portion of the folded towel, and a fourth region of the sleeve is adjacent the second side of the folded towel; and

applying a first decorative decal to an outwardly facing front face of the first region of the sleeve.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising the steps of engaging a first end of the sleeve with a second end thereof to form a tubular member that encircles the folded towel.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, further comprising the step of engaging a first fastener element proximate the first end of the sleeve with a second fastener element proximate the second end of the sleeve.

19. The method as defined in claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

removing the first decorative decal from its engagement with the sleeve; and

applying a second decorative decal to the outwardly facing face of the sleeve.

20. The method as defined in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

hanging the towel over a towel rack to create the folded towel prior to engagement of the sleeve around the folded towel.