Information
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Patent Grant
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6170100
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Patent Number
6,170,100
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Date Filed
Tuesday, May 19, 199826 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, January 9, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 005 417
- 005 419
- 005 420
- 005 653
- 005 656
- 005 657
- 160 3721
- 297 229
- 297 2191
- 297 352
- 297 23011
- 297 45213
- 297 452
- 297 19
- 297 4522
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A self-opening towel comprises a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material and being removably attached to a covering membrane. The self-opening towel has a first shape being substantially planar when in an extended configuration, and a second shape being substantially planar and having an area less than an area of the first shape when the towel is in a collapsed configuration.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a towel having multiple configurations. More specifically, the present invention relates to a towel that self-opens into an extended configuration, and also can be in a collapsed position and a chair configuration.
Conventional beach towels are typically used to dry a person, to separate a person from, for example, beach sand, and/or to line a chair. Difficulty exists, however, in maintaining the shape of conventional beach towels when being used, for example, to separate a person from beach sand or to line a chair.
Several attempts have been tried to remedy these problems with towels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,862,876, issued to Graves, discloses one attempt to maintain the desired shape of a towel. The towel in Graves has continuous flexible weights secured along at two opposed edges of the towel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,430, issued to Nicoll, discloses a beach blanket having a non-metallic tube filled with a liquid weight such as water located at the perimeter of the blanket.
These known towels, however, can be difficult to arrange when configured to have a large size. These towels can be cumbersome to arrange for separating a person from the beach sand, to line a chair, and to pack for removal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A self-opening towel comprises a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material and being removably attached to a covering membrane. The self-opening towel has a first shape being substantially planar when in an extended configuration, and a second shape being substantially planar and having an area less than an area of the first shape when the towel is in a collapsed configuration.
In one embodiment, the covering membrane has an upper side, a lower side and an interior portion between the upper side and the lower side. The frame member can be removably inserted within the interior portion of the covering membrane. The self-opening towel can also include a fastener having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the fastener can be attached to the upper side of a covering membrane; the second portion of the fastener can be attached to the lower side of the covering membrane. The fastener, when in an open position, can have a width between an upper side and a lower side of the covering membrane sufficient for the frame member to be slidably inserted into and slidably removed from an interior portion of the covering membrane.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
illustrates a self-opening towel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
illustrates a frame member of a self-opening towel, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS.
3
-
8
show a process, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by which a self-opening towel can be transformed from an extended configuration to a collapsed configuration.
FIG. 9
illustrates the carrying case into which a self-opening towel can be placed for storage and/or transport, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS.
10
-
14
illustrate a process, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by which the self-opening towel can be transformed from an extended configuration to a chair configuration.
FIG. 15
illustrates an air-inflatable mat, according to an embodiment of the present invention, which can be inserted into an interior portion of a covering membrane.
FIGS. 16 and 17
illustrate an air-inflatable cushion, according to an embodiment of the present invention, which can be inserted into an interior portion of a covering membrane.
FIG. 18
illustrates a self-opening towel, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1
illustrates a self-opening towel, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Self-opening towel
100
includes frame member
110
, fastener
120
and covering membrane
130
which includes upper side
131
and lower side
132
. Covering membrane
130
can be made of various types of appropriate materials. For example, the upper side
131
of covering membrane
130
can be made of terry cloth and can absorb moisture; the lower side
132
of covering membrane
130
can be made of nylon and can block moisture.
In this embodiment, the upper side
131
and lower side
132
of covering membrane
130
are connected along the perimeter except for the portion of the perimeter where fastener
120
is connected along the seam of the perimeter. For example, the upper side
131
and lower side
132
of covering membrane
130
are connected by a sewn seam along the perimeter of covering membrane
130
. Covering membrane
130
can have dimensions of, for example, approximately 5′6″×3′6″.
Fastener
120
can include a first portion which is attached to the upper side
131
of covering membrane
130
and a second portion which is attached to lower side
132
of covering membrane
130
. Fastener
120
can be, for example, a zipper or a set of snaps. Where fastener
120
is a zipper, the two portions of the zipper can be sewn to the respective side of covering membrane
130
.
FIG. 2
illustrates a frame member of a self-opening towel, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, frame member
110
includes tube
111
and closed, spring-like loop
112
. Closed, spring-like loop
112
can be made up of, for example, metal or any similar type of material. Closed, spring-like loop
112
can have dimensions appropriate to maintain the shape of self-opening towel
100
when in an extended configuration, yet flexible and twistable enough to allow the transition to or from an extended configuration, a collapsed configuration and/or a chair configuration. For example, closed, spring-like loop
112
can have the dimensions of ¼″ by {fraction (1/16)}″.
Tube
111
can be made of any sort of appropriate material such as rubber which is flexible yet sturdy enough to maintain closed, spring-like loop
112
being encased within the interior portion of tube
111
. Tube
111
can be constructed of a waterproof material like rubber or plastic which can prevent water from contacting and rusting closed, spring-like loop
112
.
FIGS.
3
-
8
show a process, in ascending order, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by which a self-opening towel can be transformed from an extended configuration to a collapsed configuration. Of course, the process can be reversed to illustrate the process of transforming self-opening towel
100
from a collapsed configuration to an extended configuration by following FIGS.
3
-
8
in descending order.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, where the longer side of self-opening towel
100
lies across from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock, a person can hold the edge of self-opening towel
100
at approximately 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock. As shown in
FIG. 4
, the ends of towel
100
along the longer side can then be folded towards the center, away from the person. As shown in
FIG. 5
, one end of the towel
100
can be further brought towards the center. As shown in
FIG. 6
, the remaining end of towel
100
can then be folded over so that towel
100
is folded into a substantially circular shape approximately one-third the area of the towel when in a extended configuration as shown in FIG.
3
.
Please note that self-opening towel
100
in a collapsed configuration is approximately or substantially planar in shape although it does have a thickness approximately greater than the thickness of the towel as shown in an extended configuration. The term “substantially planar” merely indicates that the towel is approximately flat although not exactly lying within a plane in a purely geometric sense. As shown in
FIG. 8
, self-opening towel
100
in a collapsed configuration can be placed into carrying case
200
for storage and/or transport.
FIG. 9
illustrates the carrying case into which a self-opening towel can be placed for storage and/or transport, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
FIG. 9
, carrying case
200
includes a strap, a zipper which can provide an opening to the interior portion of carrying case
200
. Carrying case
200
can be made of, for example, the same materials as self-opening towel
100
. Additionally, the strap can be attached to the main body of carrying case
200
, for example, by attaching one end of the strap to one side of the main body and attaching the other end of the strap to the other side of the main body.
FIGS.
10
-
14
illustrate a process, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by which the self-opening towel can be transformed from an extended configuration to a chair configuration. Of course, the self-opening towel
100
can be changed from a chair configuration to the extended configuration by following
FIGS. 10 through 14
in descending order.
As shown in
FIG. 10
, where the longer side of self-opening towel
100
lies across from 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock, a person can hold the edge of self-opening towel
100
at approximately 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock. As
FIG. 11
shows, the person can then bring the two sides of the towel upward and rotating the sides inward. As
FIG. 12
shows, the person can then bring the two sides parallel along each other. Then as
FIG. 13
shows, the top of the two sides can then be brought rotated down towards the crease that is made with the top half of the towel. Self-opening towel
100
now has seat portion
101
and back portion
102
as illustrated in FIG.
14
.
Additional items can be also used in conjunction with a self-opening towel, for example, by inserting an additional item into the interior portion of a self-opening towel.
FIG. 15
illustrates an air-inflatable mat, according to an embodiment of the present invention, which can be inserted into an interior portion of a covering membrane. More specifically, air-inflatable mat
140
can be inflated through a plug
141
. Air-inflatable mat
140
can be inserted between upper side
131
and lower side
132
of covering membrane
130
. Plug
141
can then be inserted through a hole
133
in upper side
131
of covering membrane
130
. The air-inflatable mat
140
can be inserted into self-opening towel
100
when in an extended configuration and then removed when self-opening towel
100
is converted to a collapsed configuration or a chair configuration. Alternatively, air-inflatable mat
140
can be inserted into and retained within self-opening towel
100
when in an extended configuration, a collapsed configuration and/or a chair configuration. Air-inflatable mat
140
can be temporary inserted into self-opening towel
100
by, for example, a hook-and-pile type of fastener, or permanently inserted into self-opening towel
100
by, for example, sewing air-inflatable mat
140
into covering membrane
130
of self-opening towel
100
.
FIGS. 16 and 17
illustrate an air-inflatable cushion, according to an embodiment of the present invention, which can be inserted into an interior portion of a covering membrane.
FIG. 16
shows an air-inflatable cushion inserted into self-opening towel
100
;
FIG. 17
shows the disassembled pieces of self-opening towel
100
. As shown in
FIG. 17
, air-inflatable cushion
150
can be inserted between the upper side
131
and the lower side
132
of covering membrane
130
. Upper side
131
of covering membrane
130
can include a hole
133
through which the plug on the air-inflatable cushion
150
can be inserted to provide access for inflating and deflating air-inflatable cushion
150
. Of course, the air-inflatable cushion
150
can be inserted and removed through fastener
120
when the upper side
131
and lower side
132
of covering membrane
130
are assembled along the seam and assembled with the portions of fastener
120
.
FIG. 18
illustrates a self-opening towel, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Self-opening towel
300
includes covering membrane
330
having a central portion
331
and an extended portion
332
. Extended portion
332
is folded over and attached to central portion
331
of covering membrane
330
with fasteners
320
around the perimeter of covering membrane
330
.
As the blowout illustration in
FIG. 18
shows, frame member
310
is a flexible twistable material which runs along the outer crease of covering membrane
330
approximately where central portion
331
and extended portion
332
of covering membrane
330
met. Frame member
310
is secured into place by a first portion
321
of fastener
320
and a second portion
322
of fastener
320
. In this configuration, fasteners
320
can be unfastened. In other words, portion
321
can be disconnected from portion
322
so that frame member
310
can be removed from covering membrane
330
. This allows covering membrane
330
to be, for example, washed without having frame member
310
being present. Of course, once covering membrane
330
is clean and dry, the frame member
310
can be reinserted and resecured by, again, connecting portion
321
to portion
322
of all the fasteners
320
located around the perimeter of covering membrane
330
.
It should, of course, be understood that while the present invention has been described in reference to particular configurations, other configurations should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, although the shape of the self-opening towel is shown as being substantially oval, other shapes are possible such as shapes more circular or more rectangular.
Claims
- 1. A self-opening towel, comprising:a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material, a covering membrane, said frame member being removably attached to said covering membrane, said frame member defining a seat portion and a back portion, the seat portion being substantially planar, the back portion arcuately extending from the seat portion the seat portion has a substantially circular perimeter, the back portion has a substantially circular perimeter, is connected to a front section of the seat portion and has a depth defined by a rear section of the seat portion.
- 2. The self-opening towel of claim 1, wherein said frame member further includes:a closed, flexible, springable loop; and a tube having an interior portion, said closed loop being enclosed within the interior portion of said tube, said closed, flexible, springable loop and said enclosed tube being located along a perimeter of said covering material when attached.
- 3. The self-opening towel of claim 1, further comprising:a fastener having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of said fastener being attached to an upper side of said covering membrane and the second portion of said fastener being attached to a lower side of said covering membrane, said fastener, when in an open position, having a width between the upper side and the lower side of said covering membrane sufficient for said frame member to be slidably inserted into and slidably removed from an interior portion of said covering membrane.
- 4. The self-opening towel of claim 1, wherein:said covering membrane has an upper side, a lower side and an interior portion between the upper side and the lower side, said frame member being removably inserted within the interior portion of said covering membrane, the upper side of said covering membrane is terry cloth, and the lower side of said covering is nylon.
- 5. The self-opening towel of claim 1, further comprising:a carrying case having an interior portion and an opening into which said covering membrane and said frame member, when in the collapsed configuration, is slidably insertable.
- 6. The self-opening towel of claim 1, further comprising:an inflatable mat removably inserted into an interior portion of said covering membrane between an upper side and a lower side of said covering membrane, said frame member being removably inserted within the interior portion of said covering membrane.
- 7. The self-opening towel of claim 1, further comprising:an inflatable cushion removably inserted into an interior portion of said covering membrane between an upper side and a lower side of said covering membrane, said frame member being removably inserted within the interior portion of said covering membrane.
- 8. A self-opening towel, comprising:a frame member having: a closed, flexible, springable loop, and a tube having an interior portion, said closed loop being enclosed within the interior portion of said tube; a covering membrane having an upper side, a lower side and an interior portion between the upper side and the lower side; said frame member being slidably inserted into and slidably removed from the interior portion of said covering membrane; and an inflatable cushion inserted into the interior portion of said covering membrane between the upper side and the lower side of said covering membrane.
- 9. The self-opening towel of claim 8, wherein the upper side of said covering membrane is terry cloth, and the lower side of said covering is nylon.
- 10. The self-opening towel of claim 8, further comprising:a carrying case having an interior portion and an opening into which said covering membrane and said frame member, when in the collapsed configuration, is slidably insertable.
- 11. A self-opening towel, comprising:a frame member having: a closed, flexible springable loop, and a tube having an interior portion, said closed loop being enclosed within the interior portion of said tube; a covering membrane having an upper side, a lower side and an interior portion between the upper side and the lower side; said frame member being slidably insertable into and slidably removable from the interior portion of said covering membrane; and an inflatable mat insertable into the interior portion of said covering membrane between the upper side and the lower side of said covering membrane.
- 12. A self-opening towel, comprising:a frame member having: a closed, flexible, springable loop, and a tube having an interior portion, said closed loop being enclosed within the interior portion of said tube; a covering membrane having an upper side, a lower side and an interior portion between the upper side and the lower side; said frame member being slidably insertable into and slidably removable from the interior portion of said covering membrane; and an inflatable cushion insertable into the interior portion of said covering membrane between the upper side and the lower side of said covering membrane.
- 13. A method for folding a frame member of a towel into a chair configuration, comprising:bringing two opposite sides of the towel upward while rotating the two sides inward; bringing the two sides parallel along each other; and rotating the two sides down towards a crease formed within a top half of the towel.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the towel has a long dimension and a short dimension, the two opposite sides being along the long dimension of the towel.
- 15. An apparatus, comprising:a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material, said frame member being a continuous loop; a covering membrane, said frame member being removably coupled to said covering membrane, said frame member and said covering membrane collectively defining a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being substantially planar, said second portion extending arcuately upward from said first portion, a portion of said frame member defining said first portion is substantially circular and said covering membrane of said first portion is substantially flat, a portion of the frame member defining said second portion is substantially circular and said covering membrane of said second portion is substantially concave.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first portion is a substantially planar seat portion of a chair and said second portion is a back portion of a chair.
- 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the depth of said covering membrane of said second portion is defined by a rear section of said first portion.
US Referenced Citations (38)