Patent Publication Number: US-2017360180-A1

Title: Hair Styling Towel System and Method

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to and claims priority from pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/351,925 filed Jun. 18, 2016, entitled Hair Styling Towel System and Method, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The invention relates generally to a hair styling towel system and method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hair styling often involves the cutting and styling of wet hair. Typically, capes are used by stylists to protect customers, e.g., to keep hair clippings off of customers&#39; clothes. However capes typically are not absorbent. Water from the hair generally runs down the cape or pools in a fold of the cape material. 
     As an alternative or in addition to a cape, a stylist might use a towel to absorb any water from the hair. Generally, the towel is draped or wrapped around a person&#39;s neck and placed over the person&#39;s shoulders. To help hold the towel in place, clips (i.e., usually hair clips) are used to secure a portion of the towel to itself. Such an arrangement proves disadvantageous, however, because hair clips—which are not designed to hold a towel—often become dislodged during the cutting or styling procedure. 
     Thus, there remains a need for an improved hair styling towel system and method. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a hair styling towel system and method that greatly enhances the ability of stylists to serve customers. In one exemplary embodiment, a towel includes one or more slits or buttonhole-shaped openings proximate one or more corners or sides of the towel. Advantageously, each slit extends away from a corner or side of the towel, e.g., at an acute angle to the side or to the sides of the towel that form the corner. In one exemplary embodiment, a slit extends at a forty-five degree angle to a side or to each side. The slit extends for a sufficient length based upon the weight, thickness, and/or material of the towel. That is, for example, thicker or heavier towels generally include a longer slit than thinner towels. When a towel is placed upon a person during styling, a portion of the towel may be inserted through the slit to secure the towel in place. In one exemplary embodiment, a first towel corner is inserted through a slit proximate a second towel corner. 
     The above exemplary embodiments, either alone or in combination, thus simplify the process of a stylist securing a towel about a customer. Eliminated is the need for use of a clip to hold the towel. Also, the use of buttons, zippers, hook and loop fasteners, and the like is avoided. 
     Other benefits and advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated from the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of hair styling towel system and method are shown in the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an exemplary towel including a slit proximate a corner of the towel. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of an exemplary towel including a slit proximate each corner of the towel. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary towel draped with a first corner portion of the towel inserted through a slit proximate a second corner of the towel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention and various alternatives are described. Those skilled in the art will recognize, given the teachings herein, that numerous alternatives and equivalents exist which do not depart from the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention not be limited by the description set forth herein or below. 
     One or more specific embodiments of the system and method will be described below. These described embodiments are only exemplary of the present disclosure. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     Further, for clarity and convenience only, and without limitation, the disclosure (including the drawings) sets forth exemplary representations of only certain aspects of events and/or circumstances related to this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize, given the teachings herein, additional such aspects, events and/or circumstances related to this disclosure, e.g., additional elements of the devices described; events occurring related to towel placement; etc. Such aspects related to this disclosure do not depart from the invention, and it is therefore intended that the invention not be limited by the certain aspects set forth of the events and circumstances related to this disclosure. 
     Turning now to the drawings, an exemplary hair styling towel system and method are provided. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a towel generally includes four corners  10 ,  20 ,  30 , and  40 . Advantageously, proximate at least one corner  10  a slit or buttonhole-shaped opening  50  is formed. The slit  50  may be formed at an angle A to a side  60  of the towel. In one exemplary embodiment, the slit  50  is formed at about forty-five degree angles to the sides of the towel that form the corner  10  that is proximate to the slit  50 . The slit  50  generally extends for a sufficient length B for a desired type of towel material, so that a portion of the towel material may be inserted and pulled partially through the slit  50 . Exemplary embodiments of towels include cotton towels of the following sizes, i.e., widths W, lengths L and weights: width 16 inches, length 26 inches, weight 2.8 pounds per dozen; width 16 inches, length 27 inches, weight 3.0 pounds per dozen; and width 15 inches, length 25 inches, weight 2.5 pounds per dozen. 
     Typically, the towel portion inserted and pulled through the opening  50  will be another corner (e.g., corner  20 ,  30 , or  40 ) of the towel that is disposed away from the slit  50 . In some embodiments, though, a side portion of the towel may be used. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the slit  50  extends for a length B of approximately 1.5 inches with a towel that is sized approximately 15-16 inches by approximately 24-27 inches. Such a towel is generally regarded as a standard-sized salon towel and sold at a weight generally between about 2 and about 3 pounds per dozen. Typically, the towel is a terry towel and made of 100% cotton. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the opening  50  in the towel may be highlighted, e.g., by the use of a different color material around the opening  50 . That way, the location of the slit  50  is more readily apparent to a stylist. The highlighting may take any of a number of forms, either alone or in combination, so that the slit or opening stands out to the sight or touch of the stylist. Different colors may be used, different materials may be placed proximate the slit, different stitching may be used about the slit or opening, etc. 
     In one alternate embodiment, a side of the towel may include an opening. In another embodiment, more than one corner or one side of a towel includes an opening. In another embodiment, each side or each corner of the towel includes an opening. As shown by way of example in  FIG. 2 , each corner  65  of towel  70  includes an opening  80 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an exemplary towel  90  in an exemplary configuration as if draped or wrapped about a customer. The corner  100  of towel  90  includes a slit  110  proximate thereto. An opposite corner  120  of towel  90  is inserted along with a portion of the towel proximate corner  120  through the slit  110 . The corner  120  and its proximate towel portion are pulled through the slit  110  sufficiently so that the towel remains in a draped or wrapped configuration. To remove the towel  90 , the corner  120  and its proximate towel portion is pulled backwardly out of the slit  110 . 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances. 
     Certain exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may be described. Of course, the embodiments may be modified in form and content, and are not exhaustive, i.e., additional aspects of the disclosure, as well as additional embodiments, will be understood and may be set forth in view of the description herein. Further, while the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.