Patent Publication Number: US-2023132647-A1

Title: Towel securement device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/274,579, filed on Nov. 2, 2021, entitled “TOWEL SECUREMENT DEVICE”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This patent specification relates to the field of devices for securing objects. More specifically, this patent specification relates to a securement device configured to prevent towels and other objects from falling to the floor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hand and dish towels are commonly found in kitchens. These towels are typically hung on objects, such as towel bars, oven door handles, and other elongated objects, to facilitate drying, to display the decorations on the towels, and form many other purposes. Unfortunately, either through use of the towels or use of the object that the towels are hung on, the towels frequently end up falling on the floor. This can lead to increased washing of the towels, and therefore increased wear and tear, and also to the inconvenience of having to replace the towels with clean ones. Therefore, a need exists for novel securement devices configured to prevent towels and other objects from falling to the floor. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A towel securement device is provided which may be used to prevent towels and other objects from falling to the floor. In some embodiments, the device may include an elongated body having a first end and a second end. A first body fastener may be coupled to the body proximate to the first end. A second body fastener may be coupled to the body proximate to the second end. Optionally, a third body fastener may also be coupled to the body proximate to the second end, and more preferably positioned proximate to the second end while also being coupled to the body between the first body fastener and the second body fastener. The body may be made from a flexible material which may allow the first body fastener to be removably coupled to the second body fastener or to the optional third body fastener so that the body is movable between a first position, in which the first body fastener and second body fastener are not coupled together, and a second position, in which the first body fastener and second body fastener (or first body fastener and optional third body fastener) are coupled together to position the body in an annular configuration. Preferably, the device may be used to secure a towel to a holding object, such as to an oven door handle, towel bar, etc., by folding the towel over the holding object and then encircling a portion of the towel that is below the holding object with the body and coupling the first body fastener to the second body fastener or to the optional third body fastener. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG.  1    depicts a plan view of an example of a towel securement device in a first position according to various embodiments described herein. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a perspective view of the example towel securement device of  FIG.  1    in a second position according to various embodiments described herein. 
         FIG.  3    shows a plan view of another example of a towel securement device in a first position according to various embodiments described herein. 
         FIG.  4    depicts a perspective view of an example of a towel securement device securing a towel to a holding object according to various embodiments described herein. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a plan view of a further example of a towel securement device in a first position according to various embodiments described herein. 
         FIG.  6    shows an elevation view of the example towel securement device of  FIG.  5    according to various embodiments described herein. 
         FIG.  7    depicts a perspective view of the example towel securement device of  FIG.  5    in a second position according to various embodiments described herein. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates a plan view of an example of an insert according to various embodiments described herein. 
         FIG.  9    shows an elevation view of an example of an insert according to various embodiments described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims. 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “rear,” “front,” “side,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG.  1   . However, one will understand that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Therefore, the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, the first element may be designated as the second element, and the second element may be likewise designated as the first element without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 15% of the specified number. Additionally, as used in this application, the term “substantially” means that the actual value is within about 10% of the actual desired value, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element or limit set forth herein. 
     A new device for securing towels and other objects is discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
     The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below. 
     The present invention will now be described by example and through referencing the appended figures representing preferred and alternative embodiments.  FIGS.  1 - 9    illustrate examples of a towel securement device (“the device”)  100  according to various embodiments. In some embodiments, the device  100  may comprise an elongated body  11  having a first end  12  and a second end  13 . A first body fastener  14  may be coupled to the body  11  proximate to the first end  12 . A second body fastener  15  may be coupled to the body  11  proximate to the second end  13 . Optionally, a third body fastener  16  may also be coupled to the body  11  proximate to the second end  13 , and more preferably positioned proximate to the second end  13  while also being coupled to the body  11  between the first body fastener  14  and the second body fastener  15 . The body  11  may be made from a flexible material which may allow the first body fastener  14  to be removably coupled to the second body fastener  15  or to the optional third body fastener  16  so that the body  11  is movable between a first position  71 , in which the first body fastener  14  and second body fastener  15  are not coupled together, and a second position  72 , in which the first body fastener  14  and second body fastener  15  (or first body fastener  14  and optional third body fastener  16 ) are coupled together to position the body  11  in an annular configuration. Preferably, the device  100  may be used to secure a towel  200  to a holding object  300 , such as to an oven door handle, towel bar, etc., by folding the towel  200  over the holding object  300  and then encircling a portion of the towel  200  that is below the holding object  300  with the body  11  and coupling the first body fastener  14  to the second body fastener  15  or to the optional third body fastener  16 . 
     The device  100  may comprise a body  11  that may be made from or may comprise a flexible material which may allow the first end  12  and second end  13  to be moved towards and away from each other. In some embodiments, the body  11  may be made from or may comprise leather or faux leather flexible material. In further embodiments, the body  11  may be made from or may comprise a flexible material, such as silicone, flexible plastic, flexible rubber, rubber foam, natural fabrics, such as cotton, linen, and terry cloth, synthetic fabrics, such as nylon and polyester, or any other flexible material with may be suitable for withstanding repeated deformation. 
     In preferred embodiments, a body  11  may be elongated in shape so that the distance between the first end  12  and second end  13  may form the largest measurement of the body  11 , although a body  11  may be configured in any shape and size. As perhaps best shown in  FIGS.  1  and  5   , in preferred embodiments, a body  11  may be elongated in shape and the device  100  may comprise a length dimension (LD) that may be the largest dimension of the device  100  so that the device  100  width and height may be much less than the length dimension (LD). In further embodiments, the device  100  may comprise one or more fasteners distances (F 1 , F 2 ) which may describe the distance that a body fastener  14 ,  15 ,  16 , may be from the end  12 ,  13 , that it is closest to. In preferred embodiments, fastener distances (F 1 , F 2 ) may be less than or equal to twenty percent, and more preferably less than or equal to ten percent of the length dimension (LD). For example, the first body fastener  14  may be coupled proximate to the first end  12  by being positioned within twenty percent of the length dimension (LD) from the first end  12 , such that the fastener distance of the first body fastener  14  (shown in  FIGS.  1  and  5    as F 1 ) is less than or equal to twenty percent of the length dimension (LD), and the second body fastener  15  may be coupled proximate to the second end  13  by being positioned within twenty percent of the length dimension (LD) from the second end  13 , such that the fastener distance of the second body fastener  15  (shown in  FIGS.  1  and  5    as F 2 ) is less than or equal to twenty percent of the length dimension (LD). 
     In preferred embodiments, the body  11  may be made from or may comprise an elastic material. Generally, an elastic or resilient material may be flexible to allow deformation and resilient so as to return to its original shape after deformation. A body  11  made from or comprising an elastic material may be able to have its length increased by pulling the two ends  12 ,  13 , apart, and once released, the device  100  may return to its original length dimension (LD)  FIGS.  1  and  5   . Example elastic materials include spandex, spandex blends, rubber, silicone rubber, elastic plastics, or any other material or combination or materials that are substantially able to regain their shape after deformation. In some embodiments, the body  11  may be made of a braided elastic material  31  (having a plurality of elastic material strands that are braided or woven together) as shown in  FIG.  3   , a woven elastic material, or a knitted elastic material. In other embodiments, the body  11  may comprise elastic materials including braided elastic fabric materials, woven elastic fabric materials, knitted elastic fabric materials, neoprene, spandex, elastane, cotton swimwear elastic, roll elastic, non-roll elastic, rubber, silicone, elastic plastics, elastic silicone, elastic rubbers, silicone rubbers, or any other suitable elastic, elastomer, or other resilient material. 
     The body  11  may include an interior surface  17  and an opposing exterior surface  18  which may each extend between the first end  12  and second end  13  forming opposing sides of the body  11 . In some embodiments, when the device  100  is encircling a portion of a towel  200  or other object in the second position  72 , the interior surface  17  may contact the towel  200  or other object, while in other embodiments, the device  100  may be reversible so that a user may choose which surface  17 ,  18 , to place in contact with a towel  200  or other object that the device  100  may be used to secure. 
     In some embodiments, the device  100  may comprise a first cap  22  that may be coupled to the first end  12  and a second cap  23  that is coupled to the second end  13 . Preferably, a cap  22 ,  23 , may be made from or may comprise a material that may be more durable than the material which may be used to form the body  11 . Optionally, a cap  22 ,  23 , may be made from or may comprise the same material which may be used to form the body  11  with the cap  22 ,  23 , being sized and/or shaped differently than the body  11 . Any suitable material may be used to form a cap  22 ,  23 , including combinations of materials. In preferred embodiments, a cap  22 ,  23 , may be made from or may comprise a natural or synthetic leather material. In further embodiments, a cap  22 ,  23 , may be made from or may comprise a flexible material, an elastic or resilient material, a generally inflexible material, such as metal alloy, wood, hard rubber, hard plastic, resins, or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. 
     Body fasteners  14 ,  15 ,  16 , may be coupled directly to the body  11  ( FIGS.  5  and  6   ) and/or indirectly coupled to the body  11  ( FIGS.  1 - 3   ). In some embodiments, a body fastener  14 ,  15 ,  16 , may be coupled to the body  11  by the body fastener  14 ,  15 ,  16 , being coupled to a cap  22 ,  23 , that is coupled to an end  12 ,  13 , of the body  11 . For example, the first body fastener  14  may be coupled to the body  11  by being coupled to a first cap  22  that is coupled to the first end  12 , and the second body fastener  15  may be coupled to the body  11  by being coupled to a second cap  23  that is coupled to the second end  13 . 
     It should be understood that the body  11  may comprise one or more decorative apertures or cutouts of any shape, size, and pattern, which may extend between the interior surface  17  and an opposing exterior surface  18 . Additionally, one or more decorative objects may be coupled to the body  11 . Furthermore, the body  11  may be adorned with any color, pattern, texture, indicia, etc., to provide a desired aesthetic appeal. 
     In some embodiments, the device  100  may comprise an insert  19  which may be positioned between a towel  200  and a holding object  300  that the towel  200  may be folded over and suspended from. Generally, an insert  19  may comprise a length of flexible material, such as terry cloth, which may provide a spacer between a holding object  300  and relatively thinner towels  200  or other objects to help the device  100  grip relatively thinner towels  200  and other objects to prevent the device  100  from sliding down relatively thinner towels  200  and other objects. As an example, an insert  19  may comprise an approximately 3.5 inch by 15 inch length of flexible material, such as terry cloth. Preferably, an insert  19  may comprise one or more fasteners, such as a first insert fastener  20  and a second insert fastener  21 , which may be removably coupled together and which may be used to enable the insert  19  to be wrapped around a holding object  300 . In preferred embodiments, the fasteners  20 ,  21 , may comprise snap type fasteners, such that the first insert fastener  20  may be removably coupled to the second insert fastener  21  by being snap fit or press fit together. For example, an insert  19  may comprise an approximately 3.5 inch by 15 inch length of flexible material with a first snap fit insert fastener  20  coupled approximately 5 inches away from a second snap fit insert fastener  21  with each insert fastener  20 ,  21 , coupled approximately 5 inches away from an end of the insert  19 . In further embodiments, an insert  19  may comprise two or more fasteners  20 ,  21 , that may be configured as hook and loop type fasteners, magnetic fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, or any other removably coupled fastener or method. 
     In preferred embodiments, an insert  19  may not be coupled to the body  11 , but may be coupled to or around portions of a holding object  300  and then a towel  200  or other object may be placed over the insert  19  and holding object  300 . The body  11  may then be coupled around the towel  200  or other object. For example, an insert  19  may be made of terry cloth with two snap type fasteners  20 ,  21 , and may be draped over an oven handle or other holding object  300  and the fasteners  20 ,  21 , snapped together. A thin towel is then draped over the insert  19  and gathered together in the same manner as a medium thickness towel  200 , as without this insert  19 , the body  11  may be floppy and slide down on a thin towel  200 . In further embodiments, an insert  19  may be coupled to a surface  17 ,  18 , of the body  11 , such as with stitching, adhesive, etc. In still further embodiments, an insert  19  may be removably coupled to a surface  17 ,  18 , of the body  11 , such as with hook and loop fasteners, magnets, buttons, clips, etc. In yet further embodiments, an insert  19  may be removably coupled to a surface  17 ,  18 , of the body  11 , via engagement with one or more body fasteners  14 ,  15 ,  16 , of the body  11 . 
     The device  100  may comprise one or more body fasteners  14 ,  15 ,  16 , which may be used to removably couple the ends  12 ,  13 , or any other portions of the body  11  together to form the generally cylindrical shape or annular configuration of the second position  72  as shown in  FIGS.  2 ,  4 , and  7   . In preferred embodiments, the body fasteners  14 ,  15 ,  16 , may comprise snap type fasteners, such that the first body fastener  14  may be removably coupled to the second  15  or third  16  fasteners by being snap fit or press fit together. In further embodiments, the device  100  may comprise two or more body fasteners  14 ,  15 ,  16 , that may comprise as hook and loop type fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, or any other removably coupled fastener or method. 
     In some embodiments, two or more body fasteners  14 ,  15 ,  16 , may be removably coupled together via magnetism and may comprise or may be made of a magnetic material, such as a high-coercivity ferromagnetic compound type of magnetic material (e.g., ferric oxide mixed with a plastic binder), ferrite, manganese-zinc ferrite, nickel-zinc ferrite, strontium ferrite, cobalt ferrite, barium ferrite, magnetic alloys such as alnico, comol, Hypernom® magnetic alloy, manganese-zinc ferrite, iron-silicon magnet alloys, nickel-zinc ferrite, ferritic stainless steel alloys, strontium ferrite, barium ferrite, alnico, iron-silicon magnet alloy, Chromindur® (Chromium-Cobalt-Iron) alloys, Silmanal (Silver-Manganese-Aluminium) alloys, Platinax II (platinum-cobalt) alloy, Bismanol (manganese bismuthide) alloy, cobalt-platinum alloys, chromium-manganese antimonide alloy, vectolite (cobalt ferrite), magnadur (sintered barium ferrite), lodex (oxide-coated iron-cobalt particles), awaruite (Ni2Fe to Ni3Fe nickel-iron alloy), wairauite, rare earth magnets such as samarium-cobalt, cesium-cobalt, neodymium-iron-boron, other neodymium magnet materials, metallic oxides such as magnetite, ulvospinel, hematite, ilmenite, maghemite, jacobsite, iron sulfides such as pyrrhotite, greigite, troilite, metallic oxyhydroxides such as goethite, lepidocrocite, feroxyhyte, ferrimagnetic materials such as magnetite, pyrrhotite, cubic ferrites, hexagonal ferrites, ferromagnetic materials including metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, metal alloys containing iron, nickel, and/or cobalt, soft magnetic materials, hard magnetic materials, or any other suitable magnetic material, that is capable of magnetically adhering to another magnetic material through the principle of magnetism. 
     As perhaps best shown in  FIG.  4   , the device  100  may be used to secure a towel  200  or other object, to a holding object  300 , such as to an oven door handle, towel bar, etc. Preferably, a user may fold the towel  200  over the holding object  300  and then wrap or encircle the body  11  around a portion of the towel  200  that is below the holding object  300 , and then the user may couple the first body fastener  14  to the second body fastener  15  or the third body fastener  16  thereby securing the device  100  and the towel  200  to the holding object  300 . 
     While some exemplary shapes and sizes have been provided for elements of the device  100 , it should be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art that the body  11 , body fasteners  14 ,  15 ,  16 , caps  22 ,  23 , and any other element described herein may be configured in a plurality of sizes and shapes including “T” shaped, “X” shaped, square shaped, rectangular shaped, cylinder shaped, cuboid shaped, hexagonal prism shaped, triangular prism shaped, or any other geometric or non-geometric shape, including combinations of shapes. It is not intended herein to mention all the possible alternatives, equivalent forms or ramifications of the invention. It is understood that the terms and proposed shapes used herein are merely descriptive, rather than limiting, and that various changes, such as to size and shape, may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 
     Additionally, while some materials have been provided, in other embodiments, the elements that comprise the device  100  may be made from or may comprise durable materials such as aluminum, steel, other metals and metal alloys, wood, hard rubbers, hard plastics, fiber reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, fiberglass, resins, polymers or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. Additionally, one or more elements may be made from or may comprise durable and slightly flexible materials such as soft plastics, silicone, soft rubbers, or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. In some embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device  100  may be coupled or connected together with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, or any other suitable joining method. In other embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device  100  may be coupled or removably connected by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as hook and loop type or Velcro® fasteners, magnetic type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, sealable tongue and groove fasteners, snap fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, a push-to-lock type connection method, a turn-to-lock type connection method, a slide-to-lock type connection method or any other suitable temporary connection method as one reasonably skilled in the art could envision to serve the same function. In further embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the device  100  may be coupled by being one of connected to and integrally formed with another element of the device  100 . 
     Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.