BEACH TOWEL

Abstract

A towel, such as a beach towel, for drying a user and for covering a chair. The towel includes a sheet of fabric having a first side edge coupled to a second side edge at a first corner, and the second side edge coupled to a third side edge at a second corner. A first corner fastener is located near the first corner and a second corner fastener is located near the second corner. A first side fastener is coupled to the first side edge, wherein the first side fastener is spaced from the first corner fastener. A second side fastener is coupled to the third side edge, wherein the second side fastener is spaced from the second corner fastener. Coupling corner fasteners to side fasteners provides a pocket configured to receive a back portion of the chair.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a beach towel and more particularly to a beach towel for covering a beach chair.

BACKGROUND

Beach towels are a variety of towel which are generally made of cotton yarn or other synthetic yarns, but which are larger than what is known as a bath towel. While beach towels can be used as a bath towel to dry off, after a shower for instance, the beach towel typically includes a size larger than a bath towel. When used at a beach and laid on the sand, the larger size is large enough to prevent beach sand from coming into contact with the user, if the user is lying or sitting on the beach towel. Oftentimes a beach towel is used at a person's residence and laid on the ground to cover grass or the ground while a user is sunbathing.

Users are also know to cover a beach chair or a chaise lounge chair with a beach towel. When used in this fashion, the beach towel can provide a more comfortable surface to the user than that provided by the beach chair. Laying or draping a beach towel over the lounge chair, however, can require continuous adjustment resulting from the user getting into or out of the chair or from the towel being blown by the wind. Chaise lounge covers for chaise lounge chairs are also known. These cover can include a preformed sewn pocket that fits over the back of the chair to hold it in place. Chaise lounge covers, however, are not used to dry off a user who becomes wet from the beach or a pool.

SUMMARY

In on implementation, there is provided a towel for drying a user. The towel includes a sheet of fabric including a first side edge, a second side edge, a third side edge, and a fourth side edge, wherein the first side edge is coupled to the second side edge at a first corner, and the second side edge is coupled to the third side edge at a second corner. A first fastener is located adjacent to or at the first corner and a second fastener is located adjacent to or at the second corner. A third fastener is coupled to the first side edge, wherein the third fastener is spaced from the first fastener and is configured to be coupled to the first fastener. A fourth fastener is coupled to the third side edge, wherein the fourth fastener is spaced from the second fastener and is configured to be coupled to the second fastener, wherein coupling the first fastener to the third fastener and coupling the second fastener to the fourth fastener provides a pocket, wherein the pocket is configured to receive a back portion of a chair.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein each of the first fastener and the second fastener include a main connector.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein the main connector is a tie.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein the tie is a rope tie. \

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein each of the third fastener and

the fourth fastener includes a receiving connector.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein each receiving connector is a loop.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein the first side edge is coupled to the fourth side edge at a third corner and the third side edge is coupled to the fourth side edge at a fourth corner.

In some implementations, the towel further includes a fifth fastener located adjacent to or at the third corner and a sixth fastener located adjacent to or at the fourth corner. A seventh fastener is coupled to the first side edge, wherein the seventh fastener is spaced from the fifth fastener and is configured to be coupled to the fifth fastener. An eighth fastener coupled to the third side edge, wherein the eighth fastener is spaced from the sixth fastener and is configured to be coupled to the sixth fastener, wherein coupling the fifth fastener to the seventh fastener and coupling the sixth fastener to the eighth fastener provides another pocket, wherein the another pocket is configured to receive a foot portion of a chair.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein each of the fifth fastener and the sixth fastener include a main connector.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein the main connector is a tie.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein the tie is a rope tie.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein each of the seventh fastener and the eighth fastener includes a receiving connector.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein each receiving connector is a loop.

In some implementations, the towel includes wherein the towel includes a towel material of at least one of a cotton fabric, or a polyester fabric, or a blend of the cotton fabric and the polyester fabric.

In a further implementation, there is provided a method of providing a cover for a beach chair using a towel. The method includes attaching one of a first main connector or a first receiving connector at or near a first corner of a towel; attaching a second main connector or a second receiving connector at or near a second corner of the towel; attaching the other of the first main connector or the first receiving connector to a first long side of a towel, wherein the first main connector and the second receiving connector are spaced apart and configured to be coupled together; attaching the other of the second main connector or the second receiving connector to a second long side of the towel, wherein the second main connector and the second receiving connector are spaced apart and configured to be coupled together; and wherein when the first main connector and the first receiving connector are coupled together and wherein when the second main connector and the second receiving are coupled together a pocket is formed to be received by a head portion of the beach chair.

In some implementations, the method includes wherein the first main connector and the second main connector include a tie.

In some implementations, the method includes wherein the first receiving connector and the second receiving connector include a loop.

In an additional implementation, there is provided method of covering a chair with a towel having side edges and end edges. The method includes: laying an end portion of the towel over an adjacent portion of the towel, wherein the end portion of the towel includes a first tie and a second tie, each of which is located at or near corners of the end portion of the towel, and the adjacent portion of the towel includes a first loop located at one side of the towel and a second loop located at another side of the towel; and connecting the end portion of the towel to the adjacent portion of the towel by connecting the first tie to the first loop and connecting the second tie to the second loop, wherein connecting the end portion of the towel to the adjacent portion of the towel defines a pocket configured to receive a back of the folding chair.

In some implementations, the method includes wherein the towel includes a third tie and a fourth tie, each of which is located at or near corners of another end portion of the towel, and another adjacent portion of the towel includes a third loop located at the one side of the towel and a fourth loop located at the another side of the towel.

In some implementations, the method includes connecting another end portion of the towel to another adjacent portion of the towel by connecting the third tie to the third loop and connecting the fourth tie to the fourth loop, wherein connecting the another end portion of the towel to the another adjacent portion of the towel defines another pocket configured to receive a foot portion of folding chair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the implementations of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a towel having built-in fasteners.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a corner of a towel having one type of fastener.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a side of a towel having another type of fastener.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a side of towel folded over having the another type of fastener.

FIG. 5 show a perspective view of towel including a pocket received by a back of a chair formed by coupling of fasteners.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic plan view of one implementation of a towel with exemplary dimensions;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The implementations of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the implementations are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a towel 10 having built in fasteners, and more particularly a beach towel having stripes 12. In one implementation as shown, the stripes 12 run longitudinally along a first long side 14 and a second long side 16 spaced from the first long side 14. The stripes 12 have ends that terminate at a first short side 18 and at a second short side 20. Each of the sides include generally straight side edges. For instance, first long side 14 includes side edge 22 that terminates at a corner 24 defined by an intersection of a first side edge 22 with a first side edge 26 of the first short side 18. Second long side 16 includes a side edge 28 that terminates at a corner 30 defined by the intersection of the first short side 18 with the second long side 16. Second short side 20 includes a first short side edge 32 that terminates at a corner 34 with the first side edge 22 and terminates at a corner 36 with the side edge 28.

In different implementations, the towel is a sheet of fabric that includes one or more of a towel fabric, a polyester fabric, a microfiber polyester fabric, a cotton fabric, a hemp fabric, a bamboo fabric, or a blend of a synthetic fabric and a natural fabric. As used herein, natural fabrics are made of animal or plant based fibers. Synthetic fabrics are man-made and produced from chemicals to provide fabrics like polyester, rayon, acrylic, and others.

The towel 10 is shown to include the first long side 14, the second long side 16, the first short side 18, and the second short side 20. While each of the a first long side 14, the second long side 16, the first short side 18, and the second short side 20 each include generally straight sides, other configurations of sides are possible. For instance, each of the sides can include curved sides, wavy sides, or sides having other configurations. In addition, while FIG. 1 illustrates a towel having stripes 12, other patterns are contemplated. For instance, the towel 10 may include no ornamentation and is completely of one color such as white or blue. Other designs includes designs from a nature or designs such as characters.

The towel 10 includes a plurality of fasteners which when connected are used to define a pocket 60 which is configured to receive a back portion of a folding chair 64. See FIG. 5. As seen in one implementation of FIG. 1, a first fastener 40 at the corner 24, a second fastener 42 at the corner 30, a third fastener 44 located along the side edge 22 and a fourth fastener 46 located along the side edge 28. By folding the first side edge 26 of the towel over an adjacent portion of the towel, a pocket is formed by coupling the first fastener 40 to the third fastener 44 and by coupling the second fastener 42 to the fourth fastener 46. In one implementation, the fasteners 40 and 42, located at the corners, are considered as a main fastener and the third and fourth fastener 44 and 46 are consider as receiving fasteners. In other implementations, other types of chair are contemplated including non-folding chairs.

In one implementation, each of the first fastener 40 and the second fastener 42 include a first rope 48 and a second rope 50 each of which is coupled to the corner 30 as seen in FIG. 2. Each of the first and second ropes 48 and 50 respectively include knotted ends 52 and 54 to reduce or prevent ends of the ropes from fraying. Other ends of the ropes spaced from the knotted ends are fixedly connected to the corner 30. As described herein, fasteners using ropes are considered rope couplers. In one or more implementations, the ends of the rope include tassels or other ornamentation.

To form the pocket 60, the knotted end of one of the first or second ropes 48 and 50 is threaded through the fourth fastener 46 and tied with the other of the first or second ropes 48 and 50. In one implementation, the first rope 48 is tied to second rope 50 using a “shoelace knot” or a “bow knot”. Other tying connections are possible. The fourth fastener 46 defines a closed loop 56 with the side edge 28 to define an aperture 58 through which one of the first rope 48 or second rope is inserted. In one implementation, the fourth fastener 46 is a fabric tape having ends that are sewn to the first side edge 28 as seen in FIG. 3. In another implementation, the first fastener 40 and the third fastener are similarly configured closed loops and the second fastener 42 and the fourth fastener 46 are configured as first and second ropes. As used herein, fasteners using tape are also considered as loop or tape fasteners. In a further implementation, one of the corner fasteners is a loop fastener and the other corner fastener is a rope fastener, while one of the side fasteners is a rope fastener and the other side fastener is a loop fastener. One advantage of using a rope fastener and/or fabric tape/loop fasteners is that these types of fasteners reduce the likelihood of a user's skin being irritated. Another advantage of these types of fasteners is that such fasteners reduce any issues with washing and drying which may occur with other types of fasteners. Additionally, a user drying off with a towel having the rope fastener and/or fabric tape fastener experiences less skin irritation.

As seen in FIG. 1, the first side edge 26 is folded over such that the first fastener 22 is close enough to the third fastener 44 to couple the two together to form one side the pocket 60. Likewise the second fastener 42 is close enough to the fourth fastener 46 to couple these two together to form the other side of the pocket 60. The size of the pocket is defined by a distance D1 between the first fastener 40 and the third fastener 44 and a distance D2 between the second fastener 30 and the fourth fastener 28. In one implementation, the distance D1 and distance D2 range from 16-20 inches. When the towel is folded over, the pocket 60 is formed including a side having a range of 8-10 inches. By coupling the first fastener 40 to the third fastener 44 and the second fastener 42 to the fourth fastener 46, a fold line 62 is defined in the pocket 60.

The fold line 62 defines a crease which receives a top back portion of the chair upon which it is placed. In some implementations, the fold line 62 is located along the top edge of the top back portion of the chair when used. While a chair 64 for sitting is illustrated, other chairs such as the beach chair or other chairs configured to enable a user to lie down or to rest at other positions between lying down and being seated are contemplated.

As seen in FIG. 1, the towel 10 includes a fifth fastener 66 coupled to the corner 34 and a sixth fastener 68 coupled to the corner 36. A seventh fastener 70 is located along the side edge 22 and an eighth fastener 72 is located along the side edge 28. By folding the second short side 20 over an adjacent part of the towel 10, a pocket is formed by coupling the fifth fastener 66 to the seventh fastener 70 and by coupling the sixth fastener 68 to the eighth fastener 72.

While fasteners one through eight are described as being one of rope fasteners or loop fasteners having specific locations, other locations and other types of fasteners are contemplated. For instance, in one implementation, the corner fasteners 40, 42, 66, and 68 are loops and the fasteners 44, 46, 70 and 72 located on the sides, i.e. side fasteners, may be rope fasteners. In other implementations, the corner fasteners 40, 42, 66, and 68 are other than a rope construction, and may be a fabric tape having free ends. While the corner fasteners are configured to attach to side fasteners, the corner fasteners and/or side fasteners may be used to anchor to a post, a stake inserted into the sand, or for connecting a wet towel to a line or other support for drying. In a further implementation, the loop fasteners may be replaced with an aperture formed in the towel fabric, which may be reinforced by stitching or reinforced with a grommet or an eyelet. Other implementations may include buttons, hooks, and hook and loop type fasteners. In an additional implementation, the corner fasteners are not located at the corners, but are instead spaced from one or more of the corners, such within a few inches. This distance enables connections of these fasteners other side fasteners to provide a pocket.

As shown, a first pocket using first short side 18 is formed and a second pocket using second short side 20 is formed. In this implementation, either end of the towel 10 may be used to form a pocket. When one end is placed at the head end of the of the chair, the other end of the towel may be fixed to the foot end of the chair. The pocket formed by the second short side may receive the foot end or portion of the chair near the foot. In other implementations, the pocket is not formed by coupling respective couplers, but the fifth fastener 66 and sixth fastener 68 are used to tie corners of the towel 10 to legs of the chair or to other portions of the chair. In other implementations, the towel 10 does not include the fifth fastener 66, the sixth fastener 68, the seventh fastener 70, and the eighth fastener 72, such that only a single pocket is capable of being formed. Since the fasteners are attached to the towel material, there is no need for external or separate fasteners to attach the towel 10 to a chair.

In other implementations, once formed the pocket may be used to carry items or supplies to and from the beach or other locations.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic plan view of one implementation of a towel 10 with exemplary dimensions. As seen in FIG. 6, the towel 10 includes a length L of 70 inches and a width W of 30 inches. The distance between a corner and one of the loops, such as loop 70, is 20.5 inches. The distances D1 and D2 are similarly configured and includes length of 20.5 inches. A length of the rope couplers, such as coupler 66, is 5 inches. While the length, width, distances between corners and loops, and lengths of the ropes, are identified with particularity in FIG. 6, other dimensions are contemplated. For instance, the towel 10 is not limited to the dimensions illustrated for length, width, and spacing between corner fasteners and side fasteners, and other towels of different dimensions are contemplated. In addition, the distance between the corners and the loops are not limited to the identified distance of FIG. 6, but other distances between the corners and the loops are possible. For instance, if a towel of different size is produced, then the distance between corners and loops may also change.

While exemplary implementations incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been disclosed hereinabove, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed implementations. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A towel for drying a user, the towel comprising: a sheet of fabric including a first side edge, a second side edge, a third side edge, and a fourth side edge, wherein the first side edge is coupled to the second side edge at a first corner, and the second side edge is coupled to the third side edge at a second corner;a first fastener located adjacent to or at the first corner;a second fastener located adjacent to or at the second corner,a third fastener coupled to the first side edge, wherein the third fastener is spaced from the first fastener and is configured to be coupled to the first fastener;a fourth fastener coupled to the third side edge, wherein the fourth fastener is spaced from the second fastener and is configured to be coupled to the second fastener;wherein coupling the first fastener to the third fastener and coupling the second fastener to the fourth fastener provides a pocket, wherein the pocket is configured to receive a back portion of a chair.

2. The towel of claim 1 wherein each of the first fastener and the second fastener include a main connector.

3. The towel of claim 2 wherein the main connector is a tie.

4. The towel of claim 3 wherein the tie is a rope tie.

5. The towel of claim 2 wherein each of the third fastener and the fourth fastener includes a receiving connector.

6. The towel of claim 5 wherein each receiving connector is a loop.

7. The towel of claim 1 wherein the first side edge is coupled to the fourth side edge at a third corner and the third side edge is coupled to the fourth side edge at a fourth corner.

8. The towel of claim 7 further comprising: a fifth fastener located adjacent to or at the third corner;a sixth fastener located adjacent to or at the fourth corner,a seventh fastener coupled to the first side edge, wherein the seventh fastener is spaced from the fifth fastener and is configured to be coupled to the fifth fastener;an eighth fastener coupled to the third side edge, wherein the eighth fastener is spaced from the sixth fastener and is configured to be coupled to the sixth fastener;wherein coupling the fifth fastener to the seventh fastener and coupling the sixth fastener to the eighth fastener provides another pocket, wherein the another pocket is configured to receive a foot portion of a chair.

9. The towel of claim 8 wherein each of the fifth fastener and the sixth fastener include a main connector.

10. The towel of claim 9 wherein the main connector is a tie.

11. The towel of claim 10 wherein the tie is a rope tie.

12. The towel of claim 9 wherein each of the seventh fastener and the eighth fastener includes a receiving connector.

13. The towel of claim 12 wherein each receiving connector is a loop.

14. The towel of claim 1 wherein the towel includes a towel material of at least one of a cotton fabric, or a polyester fabric, or a blend of the cotton fabric and the polyester fabric.

15. A method of providing a cover for a beach chair using a towel, the method comprising: attaching one of a first main connector or a first receiving connector at or near a first corner of a towel;attaching a second main connector or a second receiving connector at or near a second corner of the towel;attaching the other of the first main connector or the first receiving connector to a first long side of a towel, wherein the first main connector and the second receiving connector are spaced apart and configured to be coupled together;attaching the other of the second main connector or the second receiving connector to a second long side of the towel, wherein the second main connector and the second receiving connector are spaced apart and configured to be coupled together; andwherein when the first main connector and the first receiving connector are coupled together and wherein when the second main connector and the second receiving are coupled together a pocket is formed to be received by a head portion of the beach chair.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first main connector and the second main connector include a tie.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first receiving connector and the second receiving connector include a loop.

18. A method of covering a chair with a towel having side edges and end edges, the method comprising: laying an end portion of the towel over an adjacent portion of the towel, wherein the end portion of the towel includes a first tie and a second tie, each of which is located at or near corners of the end portion of the towel, and the adjacent portion of the towel includes a first loop located at one side of the towel and a second loop located at another side of the towel;connecting the end portion of the towel to the adjacent portion of the towel by connecting the first tie to the first loop and connecting the second tie to the second loop, wherein connecting the end portion of the towel to the adjacent portion of the towel defines a pocket configured to receive a back of the folding chair.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising wherein the towel includes a third tie and a fourth tie, each of which is located at or near corners of another end portion of the towel, and another adjacent portion of the towel includes a third loop located at the one side of the towel and a fourth loop located at the another side of the towel.

20. The method of claim 20 further comprising: connecting another end portion of the towel to another adjacent portion of the towel by connecting the third tie to the third loop and connecting the fourth tie to the fourth loop, wherein connecting the another end portion of the towel to the another adjacent portion of the towel defines another pocket configured to receive a foot portion of folding chair.