Abstract:
A towel easily wrapped and fixed about a body of a wearer, the towel having a substantially planer rectangular main body having two openings in the main body configured for securing the towel to the body of the wearer using one arm.

Description:
INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/056,467, filed Mar. 27, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/992,406 filed Dec. 5, 2007 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to towels for body wiping, protection and privacy for temporary attachment to a human body during uses that can include physical workout, shaving, applying makeup, being in the presence of other people, between personal care activities, being unclothed in variously inclement surroundings, and/or other activities before being clothed. 
         [0003]    Robes, tote towels and other modifications of towels are well known. In a manner taught by this invention, however, none are known to provide the temporary attachment as in the present invention. 
         [0004]    The subject invention provides a novel, easy to manufacture, and easy to use towel to address the current need. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The subject invention provides a novel towel configuration that is easily wrapped and fixed into position about the body of a wearer. 
         [0006]    In a preferred embodiment, the towel includes a substantially planer rectangular main body as is commonly known. There are two openings that are congruently placed along the top and/or uppermost outermost subquandrant of the towel body. Suitable that one arm can support the main body. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the opening is approximately about 10 inches long and up to 1 inch wide, with a preference between 0.1-0.7 inches wide. The ideal with, however, is approximately 0.5 inches wide. The opening, in this embodiment, is set inward from the edge of the longest towel side by about approximately 4 inches. The opening is set inward from the shorter towel side by about approximately about 3 inches. Opening placements and measurement will differ depending on the size of the towel. 
         [0008]    In a preferred embodiment the said openings are congruently placed relative to their position to their respective adjacent edges. 
         [0009]    Alternatively, the two openings may be positioned in any desired configuration. That would allow them to attach to only one arm of the user. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the openings may have a mechanism by which the sizes of the opening can be adjusted. The said mechanism may be any that is commonly known and can include but would not be limited to buttons, snaps, zipper, Velcro®, hook and loop and the like. 
         [0011]    In an alternative embodiment, the towel may have one opening adjacent to a first side and a mechanism for attaching the second or terminal side once the towel is wrapped around the body of a user. 
         [0012]    The towel may be formed of any acceptable material including but not limited to conventional terrycloth-type material. Terrycloth is a fabric with loops that can absorb large amounts of water. It can be manufactured by weaving or knitting, with weaving on a dobby loom the predominant commercial method, having two beams of longitudinal warp through which the filler or weft is fired laterally. 
         [0013]    Alternatively, the towel may be formed from non-absorbent materials and used for bathing suit cover-ups, pajamas, as well as the same configured invention may be used for a cocktail party were it, for example, made out of silk. We will refer to all rectangular configurations that can be fastened or secured in such a manner as a towel. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the regions bordering each of the openings, are reinforced to give structural strength and integrity to the towel such that the repeated motion of placing an arm in the opening and removing the arm from the opening does not tear or otherwise compromise the integrity of the towel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the towel of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  depicts sequential steps relating to the use of the towel of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the towel divided into quadrants and subquadrants. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows plan and side views of the towel with oval openings. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows plan and side views of the towel with oval openings positioned on an angle. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows plan and side views of the towel with a single oval opening. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows plan and side views of the towel with a triangularly configured attaching means. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  shows plan and side views of the towel with triangularly arranged ovals around a triangular region. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  shows plan and side views of the towel with a single securing strap along the top center. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  shows plan and side views of the towel with triangularly arranged straps. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  shows plan and side views of the towel with straps along one edge. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  shows plan and side views of the towel with straps adjacent to one edge. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  shows plan and side views of the towel with straps along one edge. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  shows plan and side views of the towel with triangularly arranged straps. 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  shows plan and side views of the towel with a single securing strap along the top center. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  shows various securing means. 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  shows plan and side views of the towel with a plurality of receiving holes around the perimeter. 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is an expanded view from  FIG. 17  showing embodiments of securing an attaching means to the towel. 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  shows several embodiments of attaching means secured to the towel. 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  shows an embodiment having several towels attached. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    Towel  10  includes a first side  25  and a second side  26  defined by the first vertical side  11  second vertical side  12  first horizontal side  13  and second horizontal side  14 . First side  25  and second side  26  collectively form a substantially planer main body of towel  10 . Towel  10  has a vertical axis A-A equidistant from first vertical side  11  and second vertical side  12 . Towel  10  has a horizontal axis B-B equidistant from first horizontal side  13  and second horizontal side  14 . Towel  10  may include periphery stitching  28  that is placed around the periphery of towel  10  along sides  11 ,  12 ,  13 , and  14 . 
         [0036]    Towel  10  has a first opening  15  defined by outer opening border  16  inner opening border  17  lower opening border  18  and upper opening border  19 . Opening  15  is parallel to first horizontal side  13  and configured such that opening  15  is relatively adjacent to second vertical side  12 . Opening  15  may also include stitching  29  that may reinforce the integrity of the fabric bordering opening  15 . Optionally, opening  15  may contain additional material along the periphery of opening  15  that may provide padding, or a decorative border. 
         [0037]    Towel  10  has a second opening  20  defined by outer opening border  21  inner opening border  22  lower opening border  23  and upper opening border  24 . Opening  20  is parallel to the second vertical site  12  and configured such that opening  20  is relatively adjacent to second vertical side  12 . Opening  20  may also include stitching  27  that may reinforce the integrity of the fabric bordering opening  20 . Optionally, opening  20  may contain additional material along the periphery of opening  20  that may provide padding, or a decorative border. 
         [0038]    In an environment of use, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a user will place their entire arm through first opening  15 , as shown in Step  1 . Next, the user wraps towel  10  around their torso as shown in Step  2 . Next, the user wraps towel  10  around their torso as shown in Step  2 . The definition of torso described herein refers to the circumference of the trunk of the wearer. The trunk of the wearer refers to the circumference of the dorsal (comprising the spinal cavity) and the ventral (comprising the thoracic/abdomino-pelvic) cavities. Previous rectangular configurations referred to the torso as being the width of the wearer&#39;s trunk. The width of the torso, as previously described, is roughly the diameter of the torso. The present invention wraps around greater than twice the diameter of a torso, or twice the measurement from one armpit to the other. The present invention also wraps around the circumference of the torso, which is a distance of less than “pie” or “Π” times one-half of the diameter squared. Thus, the distance between the 2 securing means of the present invention is the circumference of the torso, which is much greater then the width of the torso previously described. The user will then place the same arm that had previously been placed through first opening  15 , through second opening  20 . Once the user has placed a single arm through each of first opening  15  and second opening  20 , first side  25  will be facing away from the user and second side  26  will face the user. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , it is contemplated a towel of the present invention has a securing means. The securing means is preferably located, on, within, or adjacent to an uppermost outermost subquadrant. By way of example,  FIG. 3  shows a towel divided into main quadrants I, II, III, and IV. Each of the main quadrants may be divided into subquadrants i, ii, iii, and iv. In the embodiment depicted, the attaching means would be positioned in, on, or near subquadrant i, of quadrant I, and subquadrant ii, of quadrant II. In positioning the attaching means in the uppermost outermost subquadrants as described, the towel will wrap around the wearer more like a toga style and not like a shirt, vest, or tunic. Additionally, a towel constructed in this manner, as well as a towel constructed with hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®, hook, or snap attachments, does not require sleeves or any extra material, such as material extending beyond the outer periphery of the openings, half the perimeter of a torso, in order to secure to the body of a wearer. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 8 ,  10 ,  14 , and  18  have depictions showing multiple positions of the securing means. It is contemplated that towels of the present invention may have any single or multiple combinations of the depicted embodiments. For example, a towel according to the embodiment of  FIG. 8  may have a single opening on each end (the above described uppermost, outermost subquadrant) selected from any one of the four depicted openings. Alternatively, the towel may have more than one opening on each of the uppermost outermost subquadrants chosen from the openings depicted. 
         [0041]    The securing means may be any acceptable manner for securing the towel to the proximal portion of the arm of a user. This may include, but would not be limited to, a cavity, a cloth strap, the cloth may be a flexible piece of cloth material such as elastic, a hoop strap that may be made of cloth, elastic, plastic, leather or any other desired material. 
         [0042]    Each of  FIGS. 4-15  and  17  show a horizontal view of towel  25 . Above each Figure is a top view along top edge  13 . The left of each horizontal view has a left side view along side  12 . The right of each horizontal view is a right side view along side  11 . Below each horizontal view is a bottom edge view along side  14 . 
         [0043]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , first oval cavity  30  and second oval cavity  31  are available for a user to place an arm therethrough. 
         [0044]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , first oval cavity  32  and second oval cavity  33  are angularly oriented in the upper most outermost subquadrant as described above. 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows a centrally placed cavity  34  that is ornamental and not used or required to physically support towel  25 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  shows first triangular cavity  35  and second triangular cavity  36  positioned in the upper most outermost subquadrant of towel  25 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  shows oval cavities  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  41 ,  42 , and  43  that all depict possible orientations of the securing means on the towel. The securing means may be horizontal, as oval cavities  38  and  42 ; vertical as oval cavities  37  and  41 ; or angular as oval cavities  39  and  43 . Additionally, triangular cavities  40  or  44  may be the securing means. In one embodiment, the towel may have any one pair or more of the securing means shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 9  shows a strap  45  that is not a securing means but may be used for carrying towel  25 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 10  shows horizontal oriented straps  47  and  49 ; vertical oriented straps  46  and  50 ; and angular oriented straps  48  and  51 . In one embodiment, the towel may have any one pair or more of the securing means shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 11  shows straps  52  and  53  secured along the upper horizontal edge  13  of towel  25 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 12  shows straps  54  and  55  secured adjacent the upper horizontal edge  13  of towel  25 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 13  shows straps  56  and  57  secured along the upper horizontal edge  13  of towel  25 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 14  shows horizontal oriented straps  59  and  61 ; vertical oriented straps  58  and  62 ; and angular oriented straps  60  and  63 . In one embodiment, the towel may have any one pair or more of the securing means shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 15  shows a strap  64  that is not a securing means but may be used for carrying towel  25 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 17  shows a towel  25  that may have a plurality of openings  65 . Although the openings are shown around the entire perimeter of towel  25 , openings may be constructed and arranged around any portion of the perimeter. Openings  65  may be used for insertion of any securing means. As shown in  FIG. 18 , openings  65  may be used for attachment of securing means, or to secure additional towels one to another. 
         [0056]      FIG. 19  shows various embodiments for attaching securing means to towel  25 . Angular connectors  75  and  76 , each with respective cavities  74  and  77  are attached to towel  25 . Triangular connectors  78  and  80 , each with respective cavities  79  and  81  are attached to towel  25   
         [0057]    Vertical connectors  82  and  84 , each with respective cavities  83  and  85  are attached to towel  25 . 
         [0058]    Horizontal connectors  86  and  8 , each with respective cavities  87  and  89  are attached to towel  25 . 
         [0059]    In one embodiment, the securing means is arranged and configured such that one arm is placed through the first securing means, the towel is wrapped around the torso (as defined on page 8) of the user, and the same arm is placed through a second securing means. 
         [0060]    As shown in the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 11 ,  13 , and  14 , the securing means may be placed along the perimeter or edge of the towel. 
         [0061]      FIG. 16  shows depictions of the various securing means that may be used. Also shown in  FIG. 16  are first hook  80  second hook  82  joined with connector  81 . An embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 19  has first hook  82  attaches to towel  25  by passing through hole  65 . First hook  82  is connected to second hook  80  by connector  81 . Second hook  80  is then connected to a second towel  25 . Alternatively, first hook  82  may pass through hole  65  and directly connect to a looped terminal end of strap  69 . 
         [0062]    Alternatively, as seen in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the towel may have a receiving portion for receiving an attaching means. Although  FIG. 17  shows a plurality of receiving holes around the entire perimeter, it is also contemplated that one embodiment may include receiving portions on only a portion or portions of the perimeter. 
         [0063]    The embodiments shown in  FIG. 19  show the attaching means may be part of or connected to, a second member that is attached to the main body of the towel. In the embodiments of  FIG. 19 , the attaching means is still on or attached to the uppermost outermost subquadrant as described herein. 
         [0064]    In one embodiment, the two securing means may encompass an additional opening or strap and the like, looking similar to the  2  outer securing means such as those shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  9 , and  15 . This would be located along the center top line of the main body either on or adjacent to one top edge of the main body or across the length of the body in between the two outer holes. 
         [0065]    This additional opening would not be needed to secure the towel to the user. It is an available option for aesthetic reasons only. 
         [0066]    In the embodiments of  FIG. 20 , two towels  25  may be worn together by either overlapping openings or by connecting two towels along an edge. 
         [0067]    While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.