Towel and System for Connecting One of More Towels

Abstract

A towel and system for connecting one or more towels in a seamless manner (also referred to herein as “a connecting towel”). The connecting towel may comprise zippers, fasteners, buttons, snaps, strips as part of a towel strip formed on one or more sides of the towel. In at least one embodiment, there is one strip on each parallel side of the towel. When being used, all sides can be connected with a towel strip of another towel thereby forming a larger towel. In theory, there is no limit on the number of towels that can be connected (i.e., the towel and system disclosed herein can form an endless towel). The disclosed towel (also referred to as a “ConnecTowel”) has the advantages of simple design, low cost and strong practicality.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate to an article of fabric such as e.g., towels, and more particularly to a towel and system providing the ability to connect e.g., towels together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is customary for those going to the beach, park or pool to carry towels. People place their towels e.g., on the sand or by the pool. With the currently available towels, however, it is very typical for sand, dirt, wind, foot traffic and other elements to disturb and shift the setup of the towels resulting in the continuous repositioning of the towels. This is extremely undesirable for obvious reasons.

Accordingly, there is a need and a desire to create a seamless connection between towels to eliminate unwanted towel movement, shifting and/or displacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a solution for the above problems by providing a towel and system with the ability to connect multiple towels together; the results will eliminate towel shifting, therefore stopping sand, dirt, wind, foot traffic and/or other elements from impacting the towel and its users.

To this end, the towel of the embodiments disclosed herein is made from a sheet of fabric fitted with zippers, fasteners, buttons, snaps and/or strips forming a connecting strip on one or more sides of the towel. With additional identical towels constructed in the same manner, multiple towels may be connected together endlessly on all sides via the connecting strips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further objects and features of this embodiments disclosed herein will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example beach towel of an embodiment disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates multiple towels constructed in accordance with FIG. 1 connected to each other in accordance with the disclosed principles; and

FIG. 3 illustrates multiple towels connected together with the zipper strips and zipper heads being covered by toweling flaps illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example embodiment disclosed herein. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates a towel (TOWEL 1) with single, one side connector strips SH1, SH2, SV1, SV2 respectively formed on respective sides of the towel. In a desired embodiment, the towel (TOWEL 1) is constructed from a sheet of fabric suitable for beach or other towels. Likewise, in the desired embodiment, the towel (TOWEL 1) has dimensions of conventional beach towels known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, each connector strip SH1, SH2, SV1, SV2 includes one portion of a zipper (i.e., zipper teeth 1 and/or a zipper slider 2). According to the embodiments disclosed herein, the zipper teeth 1 and zipper slider 2 may consist of any type zipper strip sewn into the fabric of the towel. That is, the zipper teeth 1 and slider 2 may comprise metal, plastic or fabric strips, although it is preferred that the zipper components be made of a nonoxidizing material to avoid discoloration of the fabric of the toweling and assure smooth operation (discussed below).

According to the principles disclosed herein, the connector strips SH1, SH2, SV1, SV2 allow the towel (TOWEL 1) to be connected to one or more other towels by engaging the appropriate connector strip SH1, SH2, SV1, SV2 on the one or more other towels. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, horizontal strip SH1 (having teeth 1 and slider 2) on one towel (e.g., TOWEL 3) would engage a horizontal connector strip SH2 (having only the zipper teeth 1) on another towel (e.g., TOWEL 1). Once engaged, the slider 2 can be moved up the teeth 1 on both towels to form a zippered connection between the strips SH1, SH2 and the two towels. Likewise, vertical strip SV1 (having teeth 1 and slider 2) on one towel (e.g., TOWEL 1) would engage a vertical connector strip SV2 (having only the zipper teeth 1) on another towel (e.g., TOWEL 2). Once engaged, the slider 2 can be moved up the teeth 1 on both towels to form a zippered connection between the strips SV1, SV2 and the two towels.

In the illustrated embodiment, a toweling flap 3 covers the zipper teeth 1 and zipper slider 2 from view. In FIG. 1, only a portion of the flap 3 is shown so that the details of the teeth 1 and slider 2 can be seen. It should be appreciated, however, that the teeth 1 and slider 2 would be covered by the flap 3 along the entirety of the strips SH1, SH2, SV1, SV2 (as shown e.g., in FIG. 3).

Alternatively, each connector strip SH1, SH2, SV1, SV2 could include portions of fasteners, buttons, snaps, hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro strips), to name a few. As discussed above, the two different portions of two vertical strips SV1, SV2 would be connected together while the two different portions of two horizontal strips SH1, SH2 would be connected together. That is, if buttons are used, one strip would have the button and another strip would have the button hole. Likewise, if snaps are used, one strip would have the snap head and another strip would have the snap rivet. If a hook and loop fastener is used, one strip would have the strip of hooks and another strip would have the strip of loops. Thus, it should be appreciated that the disclosed embodiments are not to be limited to zippers.

FIG. 2. Illustrates four towels (TOWEL 1, TOWEL 2, TOWEL 3, TOWEL 4) configured as shown in FIG. 1 and connected together in accordance with the disclosed principles. That is, each towel (TOWEL 1, TOWEL 2, TOWEL 3, TOWEL 4) comprises connecting strips on all fours paralleling sides. As shown in FIG. 2, the appropriate connector strips of each immediately adjacent towel can be slipped together and closed forming a seamless connection between the towels. Assembled in that fashion, the embodiments disclosed herein will create endless towel connections. It should be appreciated that because there are free connector strips SH1, SH2, SV1, SV2, more towels can be connected to the towels illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates the toweling flap 3 covering the zipper teeth 1 and zipper heads 2 of each towel (TOWEL 1, TOWEL 2, TOWEL 3, TOWEL 4) from view. It should be appreciated that the flaps 3, among other things, enhance the esthetics of the connected towels (TOWEL 1, TOWEL 2, TOWEL 3, TOWEL 4). For example, the flaps 3 contribute to the seamless nature of the connected towels (TOWEL 1, TOWEL 2, TOWEL 3, TOWEL 4), forming the appearance of one larger towel. The flaps 3 also prevent the user from being scratched or otherwise injured by the components of the connector strips SH1, SH2, SV1, SV2.

Having described this invention in detail, those skilled in the area will appreciate that numerous modifications may be made of this invention without departing from its spirit. For example, the towel may be of any convenient size and is not limited to any specific dimensions, construction and/or manner of joining them together. In addition to towels (e.g., beach towels), it should be appreciated that the disclosed embodiments could be used with a blanket, sheets, rubber or plastic mats or any other fabric or materials one would wish to link or connect together. Because of the many modifications that may be made of this invention, it is not intended that the breadth of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, its scope is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture, said article comprising:

a sheet of fabric; and

at least two connector strips formed on respective sides of the sheet of fabric.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the sheet of fabric comprises a towel.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the sheet of fabric comprises a beach towel.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the sheet of fabric comprises a blanket.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the sheet of fabric comprises four sides and a connector strip is formed on each side of the sheet.

6. The article of claim 5, wherein a first connector strip is connected to a first horizontal side of the sheet and comprises a first portion of a first type of connector and a second connector strip is connected to a second horizontal side of the sheet and comprises a second portion of the first type of connector, a third connector strip is connected to a first vertical side of the sheet and comprises a first portion of a second said first type of connector and a fourth connector strip is connected to a second vertical side of the sheet and comprises a second portion of the second first type of connector.

7. The article of claim 6, wherein the first type of connector is a zipper and the first portions comprise zipper teeth and the second portions comprise zipper teeth and a slider.

8. The article of claim 6, wherein the first type of connector is a hook and loop fastener and the first portions comprise strips of hooks and the second portions comprise strips of loops.

9. The article of claim 6, wherein the first type of connector is a buttoned fastener and the first portions comprise buttons and the second portions comprise button holes.

10. The article of claim 6, wherein the first type of connector is a snapped fastener and the first portions comprise snap heads and the second portions comprise snap rivets.

11. The article of claim 6, further comprising a flap attached to the sides of the sheets, said flaps being provided over the connector strips.

12. A towel comprising:

a sheet of fabric; and

at least two connector strips formed on respective sides of the sheet of fabric.

13. The towel of claim 12, wherein the sheet of fabric comprises a beach towel.

14. The towel of claim 12, wherein the sheet of fabric comprises four sides and a connector strip is formed on each side of the sheet.

15. The towel of claim 14, wherein a first connector strip is connected to a first horizontal side of the sheet and comprises a first portion of a first type of connector and a second connector strip is connected to a second horizontal side of the sheet and comprises a second portion of the first type of connector, a third connector strip is connected to a first vertical side of the sheet and comprises a first portion of a second said first type of connector and a fourth connector strip is connected to a second vertical side of the sheet and comprises a second portion of the second first type of connector.

16. The towel of claim 15, wherein the first type of connector is a zipper and the first portions comprise zipper teeth and the second portions comprise zipper teeth and a slider.

17. The towel of claim 15, wherein the first type of connector is a hook and loop fastener and the first portions comprise strips of hooks and the second portions comprise strips of loops.

18. The towel of claim 15, wherein the first type of connector is a buttoned fastener and the first portions comprise buttons and the second portions comprise button holes.

19. The towel of claim 15, wherein the first type of connector is a snapped fastener and the first portions comprise snap heads and the second portions comprise snap rivets.

20. The Towel of claim 12, further comprising a flap attached to the sides of the sheets, said flaps being provided over the connector strips.