Patent Application
20090293168
People often use cotton beach or bath-sized towels to dry off and cover up after swimming, bathing, or other athletic or recreational activities. Towels are usually worn by wrapping and tucking the cotton towels around the wearer's waist or chest. While this means of covering up after being in the water or other activity is somewhat effective, it is an unreliable means of securing the towel to one's body. Quite often, the towel becomes dislodged from its tucked position and falls to the ground. This is also true in the case of athletes and triathletes in particular.
A triathlon is a timed race that includes three phases: swimming, bicycling, and running. As a triathlete exits the water after the swimming phase, whether during training or racing, it is desirable to have a towel with which to dry off and cover up. However, particularly during a race, a triathlete must move quickly to the next phase of the triathlon and needs both hands to gather equipment and otherwise ready themselves for the next phase. The conventional means of tucking a towel requires the triathlete to either hold the towel with one hand or risk having the towel fall off onto the ground. In addition, triathletes often use a towel to cover their body while changing clothes. In this case, the athlete risks unintentionally embarrassing themselves, other competitors, and spectators should their towel fall.
Use of a standard cotton towel is a disadvantage for athletes because they are often bulky, heavy, and occupy a large amount of space in an equipment bag. Space concerns are a problem for athletes who carry gear for training and racing. For example, triathletes must carry equipment for all three phases of the race, as well as food, water, and other necessary items. When a standard cotton towel becomes wet the size and weight of the towel is even more inconvenient.
Unfortunately, cotton tends to hold moisture longer than other materials. Thus, wet cotton towels typically do not dry quickly, making it inconvenient to carry or leave them inside an equipment bag, gym locker, or vehicle. As such, it is desirable to leave the wet towel outside the equipment bag or gym locker, or inside the vehicle without touching the seats or floor, to prevent other items from becoming wet. Some towels include a means to hang the wet towel away from other items; however, these towels are often susceptible to theft. Some towels include a loop-snap feature. The loop closes when the snap on the end is secured. But, because anyone can easily undo the snap, these towels are easily stolen unless placed inside a secure area with other items. Also, the loop is often placed in such a location that when hung inside a vehicle, the towel touches the seats or floor of the vehicle, causing them to become wet.
Accordingly, there is a need for a body covering that is securable, in a hands-free manner, to a person's body such that it does not easily fall off with normal activity. Furthermore, there is a need for a securable body covering that is compact and dries quickly. There is a still further need for such a securable body covering that can be locked to the exterior of an equipment bag or gym locker to help prevent theft of the covering while allowing it to dry away from other items, and that can be hung inside a vehicle in such a way that minimizes its contact with the seats or floor of the vehicle.
Disclosed herein is a body covering, comprising a flexible panel having a first edge margin and a second opposite edge margin, and a strap system secured to the flexible panel. The strap system includes an outer strap portion having a first proximal end portion attached proximate to the first edge of the flexible panel, and an opposing first distal free end portion. The strap system also includes a medial strap portion having a second proximal end portion attached to the flexible panel approximately midway between the first and second edge margins, and an opposing second distal free end portion extending away from the flexible panel. The outer and medial strap portions include cooperative fasteners for releasably fastening the body covering about a person's body. Preferably, the cooperative fasteners comprise mateable male and female fittings. The cooperative fasteners may be removably and/or slidably attached to their respective outer or medial strap portions.
The flexible panel may include first and second corners with a third edge margin extending therebetween. The outer strap portion may be attached to the flexible panel proximate to one of the first and second corners.
In another embodiment the strap system is comprised of a unitary strap including the outer strap portion and the medial strap portion. Furthermore, the flexible panel may include a hem formed along the third edge margin, and wherein the unitary strap is at least partially contained inside the hem.
The body covering may also include an elongate security strap, comprising aramid fibers, for example. The security strap has first and second opposed ends secured to the flexible panel.
In yet another embodiment a securable body covering, comprises a flexible panel that includes an edge margin extendable about the body of a person and an opening, such as a reinforced button hole, formed through the flexible panel proximate a first end of the edge margin. The body covering includes a strap system including a first strap portion having a first proximal end portion attached approximately midway along the edge margin, and an opposing first distal free end portion. The strap system also includes a second strap portion having a second proximal end portion attached to the flexible panel approximately midway along the edge margin, and an opposing second distal free end portion. One of the first and second distal free end portions is insertable through the opening.
Provided herein is a body covering that is securable, in a hands-free manner, to a person's body such that it does not easily fall off with normal activity. This securable body covering is compact and is formed of a quick drying material and includes means for locking the covering to the exterior of an equipment bag or gym locker to help prevent theft of the covering while allowing it to dry away from other items and for hanging inside a vehicle in such a way that minimizes its contact with the seats or floor of the vehicle.
Referring to
Strap system 30 includes fastener 40 for releasably fastening the strap system about the person's waist, chest, shoulders, or other body locations. Fastener 40, in this case, is a buckle including cooperative female and male fittings 42 and 44 respectively. Female fitting 42 is secured to distal end portion 31 of outer strap portion 32 and male fitting 44 is adjustably attached to the distal end portion 35 of medial strap portion 34. It should be readily understood that the male and female fittings 44 and 42 may be reversed. It should also be understood that fastener 40 may be any suitable fastener such as a buckle, button, snap, tie, loop, hook and eye closure, or cooperative hook and loop material, to name a few.
As shown in
In order to put on securable body covering 15, the wearer wraps the flexible panel 20 about their body with inner surface 26 facing towards their body. Left side 25 of flexible panel 20 is placed on top of right side 27 and cooperative fittings 42 and 44 are mated to secure the covering on the wearer's body. If necessary, distal end portion 35 may be adjusted by pushing or pulling it through male fitting 44 to increase or decrease the effective length of medial strap portion 34. Thus, securable body covering 15 is infinitely adjustable to fit children as well as adults of many shapes and sizes.
Finally,
In order to put on securable body covering 515 the wearer wraps the flexible panel 520 about their body with the inner surface facing towards their body. Left side 525 of flexible panel 20 is placed on top of right side 527 and cooperative female fitting 542 is inserted through opening 521 to connect with male fitting 544. If necessary, distal end portion 535 may be adjusted by pushing or pulling it through male fitting 544 to increase or decrease the effective length of strap system 530.
Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61057096 | May 2008 | US |
