Patent Publication Number: US-2017360214-A1

Title: Multi-Purpose Towel Including a Mechanism for Coupling to a Seat

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present disclosure is a non-provisional patent application of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/352,322 filed on Jun. 20, 2016 and entitled “Multi-Purpose Towel Including a Drawstring with Coupling Mechanisms”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure is generally related to a multi-purpose towel including a drawstring with coupling mechanisms, and more particularly to a towel including a hood portion and including a drawstring with coupling mechanisms to facilitate attachment to secure the towel to an object, such as a chair, a car seat, a lawn chair, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Activities, such as swimming, running, sporting events, or other events, may cause a person&#39;s clothing to be wet. To protect car seat after such activities, individuals may place a towel or other cover over a car seat, for example. Further, in some examples, an individual may want to cover a pool-side chair or other seat, either to provide a buffer from the heated surface or to provide a more comfortable surface on which to sit or lie down. 
     SUMMARY 
     In certain embodiments, a multi-purpose towel is described that can include a hood portion, a body portion, and at least one drawstring configured to couple the multi-purpose towel to an object, such as a chair or a car seat, or to secure the towel to a user. In some embodiments, the drawstring makes it possible to tighten the hood over a head rest of a seat so that the towel remains stationary during use. In some embodiments, eyelets may be provided in the hood, which may facilitate a smooth attachment to a seat with no head rest, such as by pulling the hood down and extending the drawstring through the eyelets to secure the towel to the seat. Other embodiments are also possible. 
     In certain aspects, each of the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism may include a tab forming a substrate and at least one opening configured to receive an end portion of the drawstring. In some aspects, the tab may be formed from at least one of metal, wood, plastic, and closed-cell resin material. 
     In some aspects, at least one magnet coupled to the tab. In some other aspects, a metallic element may be coupled to the tab at a first location, and a magnet may be coupled to the tab at a second location spaced apart from the first location. In some embodiments, the tab and a portion of the end portion of the drawstring may cooperate to form a cinch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  depicts a perspective view of a conventional seat with a headrest to which a multi-purpose towel may be attached, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  depicts a perspective view of the seat of  FIG. 1A  covered by the multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1C  depicts a rear view of the seat of  FIG. 1B  and including the multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a perspective view of a poolside chair without a headrest to which the multi-purpose towel may be attached, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  depicts a perspective view of the poolside chair of  FIG. 2A  covered by the multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2C  depicts a rear view of the chair of  FIG. 2B  and including the multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  depicts a top view of a coupling mechanism configured to releasably couple together ends of a drawstring of the multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  depicts a cross-sectional view of the coupling mechanism of  FIG. 4A , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4C  depicts a perspective view of the coupling mechanism of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and including an end portion of a drawstring, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a perspective view of the coupling mechanism of  FIG. 4C  including an expanded gap between the end portion of the drawstring and the tab portion forming a loop, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates a perspective view of a pair of coupling mechanisms coupled together to secure the drawstring, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  depicts a block diagram view of a pair of magnets configured to form the coupling mechanisms, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  depicts a cross-sectional view of a tab portion including the pair of magnets within a coupling mechanism, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6C  depicts a cross-sectional view of a pair of tab portions of  FIG. 4B  coupled together magnetically, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7A  depicts a block diagram view of a magnet and a metallic element forming the coupling mechanisms, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7B  depicts a cross-sectional view of a tab portion including a magnet and a metallic element to form a coupling mechanism, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7C  depicts a cross-sectional view of a pair of tab portions of  FIG. 7B  coupled together magnetically, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8A  depicts a front perspective view of a multi-purpose towel coupled to a car seat, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8B  depicts a rear perspective view of a multi-purpose towel coupled to the car seat of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  depicts a multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  depicts a multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  depicts a multi-purpose towel including eyelets in a hood portion and including drawstrings, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12A  illustrates a multi-purpose towel coupled to a bench seat, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12B  depicts the multi-purpose towel of  FIG. 11  folded in half lengthwise and depicting one of the eyelets, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12C  depicts a fastener coupled to a loop formed from a drawstring, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a flow diagram of a method of coupling a multi-purpose towel to a seat, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  depicts a flow diagram of a method of forming a multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15A  depicts a front perspective view of a multi-purpose towel coupled to a seat without a head rest, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15B  depicts a rear perspective view of the seat and multi-purpose towel of  FIG. 15A . 
         FIG. 16  depicts a flow diagram of a method of coupling a multi-purpose towel to a seat without a head rest, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     In the following discussion, the same reference numbers are used in the various embodiments to indicate the same or similar elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of a multi-purpose towel and associated methods of releasably securing the towel to an object or to a user are described below. In some embodiments, the multi-purpose towel may include a body portion and a hood portion. In some examples, the hood portion may be sized to fit over a user&#39;s head so that the towel may be worn. The hood portion may also fit over a head rest of a seat, such as an office chair or a car seat. The hood portion may include a drawstring that can be used to tighten the hood portion. Further, the drawstring may include one or more coupling mechanisms (such as fasteners, buttons, or tabs) at the ends of the drawstring. The coupling mechanisms may be configured to couple to one another to secure the drawstring in a cinched state. 
     In some embodiments, the hood portion of the multi-purpose towel may include one or more eyelets or button holes. In such embodiments, the coupling mechanisms at the ends of the drawstring may be pushed through one or more of the eyelets to secure the multi-purpose towel by holding the drawstring in a cinched state. The coupling mechanisms at the end of the drawstring may fit through the eyelet like a button. In a particular embodiment, the eyelets may be located adjacent to an apex or top portion and near a center of the multi-purpose towel, and the eyelets may cooperate with the drawstrings and coupling mechanisms to pull the hood portion down to provide a smooth appearance when coupled to a seat with no headrest. Additionally, in some embodiments, the drawstring may be formed from an elastic cord or string, which may be stretched and which may retract to secure the towel. 
     In certain embodiments, the coupling mechanisms may be formed from magnets, from a magnet and a metallic element, from plastic clips, a button-like element, or another coupling element. In certain embodiments, the coupling mechanism may be formed from tab elements, where each tab element may include a pair of holes to couple to the drawstring. In some embodiments, the drawstring may extend through one opening and through the other opening, and the end of the drawstring may be tied to or otherwise coupled to a portion of the drawstring to form a loop. In a particular embodiment, the end may be coupled to the portion of the drawstring by a shrink wrap material, an adhesive material, metallic crimp, another material, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the loop may be used as a cinch or as an eyelet that can receive and secure a coupling mechanism of the other end of the drawstring. Other embodiments are also possible. 
       FIG. 1A  depicts a perspective view  100  of a conventional seat  102  with a headrest to which a multi-purpose towel may be attached, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The seat  102  is an example of a car seat. Other embodiments of seats, such as office chairs, reclining chairs, table chairs, other types of chairs, or any combination thereof. 
     In certain embodiments, a user may be wet or otherwise dirty and may have dirt or other material on his or her clothes. In some embodiments, a multi-purpose towel may be fastened to the seat  102  to protect the seat  102 . An example of such an arrangement is described below with respect to  FIGS. 1B and 1C . 
       FIG. 1B  depicts a perspective view  110  of the seat  102  of  FIG. 1A  covered by the multi-purpose towel  112 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, the multi-purpose towel  112  may include a hood portion that can be extended over the headrest of the seat  102 . Further, the multi-purpose towel  112  may include one or more drawstrings that can be tightened to secure the multi-purpose towel  112  to the seat  102 . 
       FIG. 1C  depicts a rear view  130  of the seat  102  of  FIG. 1B  and including the multi-propose towel  112 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. A hood portion  132  of the towel  112  is extended over the headrest. At least one end of a drawstring  136  may extend through an opening  134  and can be pulled to tighten the hood portion  132  over the headrest. The drawstring  136  may be fed through a coupling element  140  and attached to itself to form a loop  138 . A second portion of the drawstring may extend through a corresponding hole on an opposite side and the drawstring ends may fastened to one another to secure the towel  112 . 
     It should be appreciated that the carseat is one possible example of a seat on which the multi-purpose towel  112  may be used. Other chairs are also possible. Further, while the illustrated example of  FIG. 1  depicts a seat with a headrest, the towel may also be used with chairs or seats that do not have a headrest. Other embodiments are also possible. 
       FIG. 2A  depicts a perspective view  200  of a poolside chair  202  without a headrest to which the multi-purpose towel, such as the multi-purpose towel  112  of  FIG. 1 , may be attached, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 2B  depicts a perspective view  210  of the poolside chair  202  of  FIG. 2A  covered by the multi-purpose towel  212 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The multi-purpose towel  212  may be an embodiment of the multi-purpose towel  112  in  FIG. 1 . The towel  212  may be placed onto the poolside chair  202  such that the hood portion  214  fits over a head portion of the chair  202 . 
       FIG. 2C  depicts a rear view  220  of the chair  202  of  FIG. 2B  and including the multi-purpose towel  212 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The hood portion  214  of the towel  212  may extend over an end of the chair  202 . In this embodiment, the hood portion  214  of the towel  202  may include openings, such as an opening  234  from which a drawstring  238  may extend. The drawstring  238  may be coupled to a coupling mechanism  240 , such as a button or tab, which may be threaded through slits or button holes  222  on the hood portion  214 . 
     In some embodiments, the drawstring  238  may be pulled to apply a hoop stress to the hood portion  214  to secure the towel  212  to the chair  202 . Further, the slits or button holes  222  may cooperate with the coupling mechanism  240  to secure the hood  214  by receiving the drawstring  238  and the coupling mechanism  240  and by engaging the coupling mechanism  240  to prevent the drawstring  238  from being withdrawn. In some embodiments, the drawstring  238  may be formed from an elastic cord or other elastic material, which may retract to maintain the drawstring  238  in tension to hold the hood portion  214  down. Further, the embodiment described with respect to  FIG. 2C  may provide a smooth profile for seats that do not have a headrest. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a view  300  of a multi-purpose towel  112 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The multi-purpose towel  112  may include a body portion  302  and a hood portion  304 . In some embodiments, the body portion  302  and the hood portion  304  may be formed from a unitary piece of material, such as a rectangular towel, and the end of the towel may be sewn to form the hood portion  304 . 
     In some embodiments, the body portion  302  and the hood portion  304  may be formed from different materials. In other embodiments, the body portion  302  and the hood portion  304  may be formed from the same material. In certain embodiments, the body portion  302  and the hood portion  304  may be formed from one or more layers of material, such as a terry cloth material, another moisture-absorbent material, a moisture-wicking material, another layer of material, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the body portion  302  and the hood portion  304  may include different numbers of layers, different combinations of materials, or any combination thereof. 
     The multi-purpose towel  112  may further include a drawstring, generally indicated at  305 . The drawstring  305  may extend through openings along an edge of the hood portion and through a channel that is formed along a peripheral edge  307  of the hood portion  304 . The drawstring  305  may include a first end portion including a first coupling mechanism  308  and may include a second end portion including a second coupling mechanism  312 . It should be appreciated that the terms “first” and “second” in the discussion are intended to clarify the various elements and to not indicate any particular order. In some embodiments, the drawstring  305  may be formed from a thin woven yarn or string-like material, rope, cord, or other material. In certain embodiments, the drawstring  105  may be formed from an elastic cord. Other embodiments are also possible. 
     The coupling mechanisms  308  and  312  may be formed from a variety of materials and may have different structures, depending on the implementation. In the illustrated example, the coupling mechanisms  308  and  312  are formed as tabs, buttons, or substrates, each of which includes a pair of holes to receive the end of the drawstring  305 . In this example, the first end portion of the drawstring  305  can form an adjustable loop or cinch  306  relative to the substrate through which the other coupling mechanism may be passed (e.g., between the loop or cinch  306  and the surface of the coupling mechanism  308 ). Similarly, the other end of the drawstring  305  may form a loop or cinch  310  relative to the coupling mechanism  312 . The drawstring  305  may then be pulled tight through the holes of the tab or substrate to reduce the size of the loop or cinch  306  to secure the coupling mechanism  308  and  312  together. 
     In some embodiments, both of the coupling mechanisms  308  and  312  may include a magnet. In some embodiments, one of the coupling mechanisms may include a magnet, and the other coupling mechanism may include a metallic element that is attracted to the magnetic field produced by the magnet. In still other embodiments, one or both of the coupling mechanisms may include a clip, clasp, or snap-fit type of element configured to engage a corresponding feature of the other coupling mechanism. Other embodiments are also possible. 
       FIG. 4A  depicts a top view of a coupling mechanism  400  configured to releasably couple together ends of the drawstring  305  of the multi-purpose towel  100 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The coupling mechanism  400  may be an embodiment of the coupling mechanisms  308  and  312  in  FIG. 3 . In the illustrated example, the coupling mechanism  400  may include a first opening  402  and a second opening  404 , which may be sized to receive ends of the drawstring  305 . 
     In an example, an end portion of the drawstring  305  may be threaded through the first opening  402  and then through the second opening  404 . In some embodiments, a knot may be tied in the end portion after it is threaded through the second opening  404  to prevent the tab  400  from slipping from the end portion of the drawstring  305 . In some embodiments, an end of the drawstring, after threading through the first and second openings  402  and  404 , may be coupled to itself to form a loop, using a knot, an adhesive attachment element, a shrink wrap type of attachment element, a crimp element, another attachment element, or any combination thereof. In an alternative embodiment, a fastener may be connected to the end of the end portion  306  to prevent the end portion  306  from being withdrawn through the openings  404  and  402 . Other embodiments are also possible. 
     In the illustrated example of  FIG. 4A , the coupling mechanism  400  has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners. The coupling mechanism  400  may be formed from other shapes, such as a diamond shape, a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, a circular shape, or another shape. 
       FIG. 4B  depicts a cross-sectional view  420  of the coupling mechanism  400  of  FIG. 4A , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The coupling mechanism  400  may be formed from a rigid material, such as wood, metal, or plastic. Alternatively, the coupling mechanism  400  may be formed from a lightweight material, such as sealed cardboard or cardstock, a closed-cell resin, rubber, or other material that may be partially flexible. One possible example of a closed-cell resin may be similar to the closed-cell resin called Croslite™, which is a proprietary material used by Crocs of Niwot, Colo. Other types of material may also be used. 
     The openings  402  and  404  extend entirely through the tab  402  substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal surface of the tab  402 . In an alternative embodiment, a single opening may be provided, extending from one end to another end of the tab  400 , allowing the drawstring to extend through the tab  402 . Other embodiments are also possible. 
       FIG. 4C  depicts a perspective view  430  of the coupling mechanism  200  of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and including an end portion of the drawstring  305 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the end portion of the drawstring  305  may be threaded through the opening  404  from a first side to a second side of the tab  400 . The end portion may then be threaded through the opening  402  from the second side to the first side of the tab  400 . In an alternative example, the drawstring  305  may be threaded through the first opening  402  and then through the second opening  404 . 
     In certain embodiments, the end portion of the drawstring  305  may be secured to the tab  400  by forming a knot  438  near the end  436  on the first side of the tab  400  near the opening  402 . In an alternative embodiment, a fastener, clip or other device may be coupled to or near the end  436 . The knot  438  (or other device) may prevent the drawstring  305  from being withdrawn through the opening  402  and may secure the tab  400  to the drawstring  305 . In an alternative embodiment, the end  436  may be secured to the drawstring  305  to form a loop. 
     In certain embodiments, a portion  434  of the drawstring  305  may form a cinch or adjustable loop relative to a surface  440  of the tab  400 . The loop may be expanded by pulling on the portion  434  and may be closed or cinched by pulling on the drawstring  305 . In some embodiments, the adjustable loop and the coupling mechanism (or tab)  400  cooperate to form a cinch that may be used to secure a corresponding coupling mechanism  400 , as described below with respect to  FIGS. 5A and 5B . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a perspective view  500  of the coupling mechanism  400  of  FIGS. 4A-4C  including an expanded gap (D 1 ) between the portion  434  of the drawstring  305  and the surface of the tab  400  forming a loop, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the portion  434  may be adjusted to expand the loop relative to the surface of the coupling mechanism  400 . A corresponding coupling mechanism  400  may be extended through the loop between the portion  434  and the surface  440  of the coupling mechanism  400 . The drawstring  305  may then be pulled to adjust the cinch and to secure the coupling mechanism  400 B to the coupling mechanism  400 A. An example of such a coupling is described below with respect to  FIG. 5B . 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates a perspective view  510  of a pair of coupling mechanisms  400 A and  400 B are coupled together to secure the end portions  105 A and  305 B of the drawstring  305 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the coupling mechanism  400 B has been inserted through the loop formed by the portion  434  and the surface  440  of the tab  400 A, and the drawstring  305 A has been pulled to cinch the loop. By cinching the loop, the portion  434  and the tab  400 A cooperate to secure the coupling mechanism  400 B. 
     It should be appreciated that the cinch-type coupling is one possible example of a coupling mechanism. In another embodiment, magnets, clips or other attachment features may be used to secure the coupling mechanism  400 A to the coupling mechanism  400 B. In still another embodiment, as depicted below in  FIG. 12C , the coupling mechanism may be implemented as a loop where the end of the drawstring is coupled to the drawstring by tape, glue, a shrink attachment, or any combination thereof to form the loop. Other embodiments are also possible, as described below. 
       FIG. 6A  depicts a block diagram view  600  of a pair of magnets  602  and  604  configured to form the coupling mechanisms, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the magnets  602  and  604  may be embedded within the coupling mechanism  400  of  FIGS. 4A through 5B . Other embodiments are also possible. 
     In an example, a first magnet  602  may be coupled to an end of the drawstring  305 A, and a second magnet  604  may be coupled to an end of the drawstring  305 B. The ends of the drawstring  305 A and  305 B may be ends of the drawstring  305 . In an example, the first end portion and the second end portion may be drawn toward one another (or one may be drawn toward the other), and the magnetic fields of the first and second magnets  602  and  604  may attract one another to form a coupling attachment. 
       FIG. 6B  depicts a cross-sectional view  620  of a coupling mechanism  621  including a pair of magnets  622  and  624  within the coupling mechanism  621 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The tab portion  602  may include a first opening  402  and a second opening  404  and may include a first magnet  622  and a second magnet  624  embedded within the coupling mechanism  621 . In the illustrated example, the first magnet  622  and the second magnet  624  may be oriented opposite to one another, such that the first magnet  622  is oriented south/north and the second magnet  624  is oriented north/south. In another embodiment, the first magnet  622  and the second magnet  624  may be oriented in the same direction. Other embodiments are also possible. 
       FIG. 6C  depicts a cross-sectional view  630  of a pair of coupling mechanisms  621  of  FIG. 6B  coupled together magnetically, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, a first end portion of the drawstring  305 A may be extended through openings  402  and  404  in the coupling mechanism  621 A, and a second end portion of the drawstring  305 B may be extend through openings in the coupling mechanism  621 B. In some embodiments, the coupling mechanism  621 A may be an embodiment of the coupling mechanisms  308  and  312  in  FIG. 3 , and the coupling mechanism  621 B may be an embodiment of the coupling mechanisms  308  and  312  in  FIG. 3 . In this example, the magnets  622  and  624  may align to one another to secure the coupling mechanisms  621 A and  621 B to one another. In another embodiment, the magnet  622  of coupling mechanism  621 A may be magnetically coupled to the magnet  624  of coupling mechanism  621 B, or vice versa. Other embodiments and other magnetic couplings are also possible. 
       FIG. 7A  depicts a block diagram view  700  of a magnet  702  and a metallic component  704  coupled to form a magnetic attachment, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, the first end portion  706  of the drawstring  305  may be coupled to the magnet  702 , and the second end portion  708  of the drawstring  305  may be coupled to the metallic component  704  to form the magnetic attachment. The magnet  702  may attract the metallic component  704  to secure the end portions  706  and  708  of the drawstring  305 . 
       FIG. 7B  depicts a cross-sectional view of a coupling mechanism  721  including a magnet  722  and a metallic element  724 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The coupling mechanism  721  may include openings  402  and  404  to secure the drawstring  305 . Further, the coupling mechanism  721  may secure a magnet  722  and a metallic element  724 . In some embodiments, the magnet  722  may attract a metallic element  724  of an adjacent tab  721 , as shown in  FIG. 7C . 
       FIG. 7C  depicts a cross-sectional view  730  of a pair of coupling mechanisms  721 A and  721 B coupled together magnetically, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. A coupling mechanism  721 A may include openings  402  and  404  through which the first end portion  706  of the drawstring  305  may extend. Further, the coupling mechanism  721 A may include a magnet  722  and a metallic element  724 . A second coupling mechanism  721 B may include openings  402  and  404  through which the second end portion  708  of the drawstring  305  may extend. The second coupling mechanism  721 B may include a magnet  722  and a metallic element  724 . 
     In the illustrated example, the metallic element  724  of the second coupling mechanism  721 B may be coupled to the magnet  722  of the first coupling mechanism  721 A. Further, the magnet  722  of the second coupling mechanism  721 B may be coupled to the metallic element  724  of the first coupling mechanism  721 A. In another example, a clip or buckle could be used to couple the first end portion  706  and the second end portion  708 . Other embodiments are also possible. 
       FIG. 8A  depicts a front perspective view  800  of a multi-purpose towel  112  coupled to a car seat  802 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The towel  112  may include a body portion  802  and a hood portion  804 . In this example, the hood portion  804  may be positioned over a headrest  808  of the car seat  102 , and the body portion  802  may be draped over the back  806  of the car seat  102 . 
     In certain embodiments, a first end portion of the drawstring  305  and the second end portion of the drawstring  305  may be pulled to tighten the hood portion  804  about the headrest  808 . In an example, the drawstring  305  may apply a “hoop” stress to the surface of the headrest  808  to secure the towel  112  to the car seat  102 . By tightening the hood portion  804  to the headrest  808 , the towel  112  may be secured to the car seat  102  so that a user can sit down and get back up without displacing the towel  112 . The coupling mechanisms may cooperate to secure the drawstring  305  to maintain the hood portion  804  tightened about the headrest  808 . 
       FIG. 8B  depicts a rear perspective view  820  of a multi-purpose towel  112  coupled to the car seat  802  of  FIG. 8A . In the illustrated example, the coupling elements  140 A and  140 B may be configured as described above with respect to any of the  FIGS. 1-8A . In the illustrated example, the coupling mechanism  140 B may be threaded between the portion  434  of the drawstring  305  (in  FIG. 4C ) and the surface  440  of the coupling mechanism  140 A and the drawstring  305  may be tightened to secure the drawstring  305 . 
     In some embodiments, the drawstring may be formed from an elastic cord. The elastic cord may extend to tighten the hood portion  904  about the head rest  808  and may retract to maintain the hood portion  904  in a tightened state. Other embodiments are also possible. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the coupling mechanisms  140 A and  140 B may be replaced with a magnetic coupling mechanism, a magnetic/metal coupling mechanism, a clip, a clasp, a buckle, another coupling mechanism, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the coupling mechanisms  140 A and  140 B may be configured to form loops by coupling the end of the drawstring to the drawstring itself to form the loop. The coupling mechanisms  140 A and  140 B may be configured to operate as buttons or fasteners to engage the loops. Other embodiments are also possible. 
       FIG. 9  depicts a front view  900  of a multi-purpose towel  112 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The towel  112  may include a hood portion  904  that defines a channel  906  extending between a first opening  910  and a second opening  912 . The drawstring may extend through the channel  906 . A first end portion  136 A of the drawstring may extend from the first opening  910  and a coupling element  140 A may be coupled to the end portion  136 A. A second end portion  136 B of the drawstring may extend from the second opening  912  and coupling element  140 B may be coupled to the second end portion  136 B. 
     In this illustrated example, the hood portion  804  of the multi-purpose towel  112  may include eyelets  908 , which can be configured to receive and engage the attachment mechanisms  140 A and  140 B. In a particular example, the towel  112  may be positioned such that the hood portion  904  is draped over the top portion of a seat. If the seat has a headrest  808 , the drawstring may be pulled to tighten the hood portion  104  over the headrest  808 . In some embodiments, such as when the seat has no headrest, the drawstring may be pulled and drawn through the eyelets  908  to tighten the towel  112  against the seat and to conform the hood portion  904  of the towel  112  to the top of the seat. Other embodiments are also possible. 
     In the illustrated example, the drawstring may be repositioned within the channel  906 , making the end portion  136 A longer than, shorter than, or the same length as the end portion  136 B. In this example, the drawstring may be a single string. In an alternative embodiment, two strings may be used, as described below with respect to  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts a multi-purpose towel  112 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, the drawstring may be replaced with two strings, including a first string  1004  and a second string  1006 . The first string  1004  may extend through the first opening  910  and may have a first end portion  136 A that includes a coupling mechanism  140 A. The other end of the first string  1004  may be attached at an attachment location  1002  within the channel  906 . The second string  1006  may be attached at the attachment location  1002  or at another location and may extend through the opening  912 . The end portion  1136 B of the second string  1006  may also include a coupling element  140 B. 
     In this illustrated example, the hood portion  904  of the multi-purpose towel  112  may include eyelets  908 , which can be configured to receive and engage the attachment mechanisms  140 A and  140 B. In a particular example, the towel  112  may be positioned such that the hood portion  304  is draped over the top portion of a seat. If the seat has a headrest  806 , the drawstring may be pulled to tighten the hood portion  904  over the headrest  806 . In some embodiments, such as when the seat has no headrest  806 , the drawstring may be pulled and drawn through the eyelets  908  to tighten the towel  112  against the seat and to conform the hood portion  904  of the towel  112  to the top of the seat. Other embodiments are also possible. 
     It should be appreciated that the coupling mechanisms  140  in  FIGS. 9 and 10  may be implemented using any of the embodiments described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-8 . Other embodiments are also possible. For example, as described below with respect to  FIG. 11 , the end of the drawstring may be curved back and coupled to itself to form a loop, which may provide an attachment loop for engaging the coupling mechanism of the other end of the drawstring. 
     While the above examples have depicted attachment of the multi-purpose towel  100  to a bucket-type of car seat, it should be appreciated that the drawstring(s) and coupling mechanisms enable coupling of the multi-purpose towel to any number of seat types, including bench seats, lounge chairs, pool-side chairs, and the like. 
       FIG. 11  depicts a multi-purpose towel  1100  including eyelets in a hood portion, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The towel  1100  may include a body portion  1102  and a hood portion  1104 . The hood portion  1104  may include a drawstring (having a first portion  1106  and a second portion  1114 ) that can extend through a channel in the hood portion  1104  or that may be attached to sides of the hood portion  1104 . The first portion  1106  of the drawstring may extend from the hood portion  1104  and may include an end loop  1108  that extends through a fastener  1110  and that is fixed using a coupling element  1112 . In one example, the coupling element  1112  may be formed by a shrink wrap tube, tape, glue, or another fastener. The second portion  1114  may extend from the hood portion  1104  and may include an end loop  1116  that extends through a fastener  1118  and that is fixed using a coupling element  1120 . In the illustrated example, the hood portion  1104  may include eyelets or slots  1122  sized to receive the fasteners  1110  and  1118 . 
     In a particular example, the eyelets  1122  may be formed in the hood portion  904  and aligned approximately with a center of the body portion  1102 . In certain embodiments, the eyelets  1122  may be formed at a rear of the hood portion  1104 , which would be near the top and back of a user&#39;s head when worn as a hood. The eyelets  1122  may be engaged by the fasteners  1110  and  1118  to secure the hood portion  1104  to a seat. 
     In certain embodiments, the eyelets  901  in  FIGS. 9 and 10  and the eyelets  1122  of  FIG. 11  may be implemented as an opening having stitching on all sides to provide a button hole or opening to receive the fastener mechanism. In some embodiments, the eyelets may be implemented as a grommet or other type of opening to permit attachment of cords or lines. 
     In an example, the eyelets  901  or  1122  make it possible to pull the hood portion  1104  down and secure the multi-purpose towel  112  to a seat that does not have a headrest. By pulling the head portion  1104  down and securing the drawstring to the head portion  104  through the eyelets  901  or  1122 , the head portion  1104  may be pulled down and secured, proving a tight fit over the top of the seat. An example of the multi-purpose towel coupled to a bench seat with no headrest is described below with respect to  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 12A  illustrates a view  1200  of a multi-purpose towel  1112  coupled to a bench seat  1202 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the multi-purpose towel  112  has a generally rectangular shape and includes a body portion  1102  and a hood portion  1104 . As with the above-described embodiments, the hood portion  1104  of the towel  112  may be draped over a headrest of the bench seat  1202  and may be secured by a hoop stress created by pulling the ends of the drawstring or drawstrings  1106  and  1114  and securing them using coupling elements  1110  and  1118 . The body portion  1102  of the multi-purpose towel  112  may be draped across the selected seat. 
     In some embodiments, a particular seat or chair may be longer than the multi-purpose towel  112 . In an example, multiple multi-purpose towels may be coupled to one another using the coupling mechanisms  1110  and  1118  to secure a first multi-purpose towel to a second multi-purpose towel, and so on. Any number of multi-purpose towels  112  may be coupled together to achieve a desired configuration. Other embodiments are also possible. 
     In the illustrated example, the hood portion  1104  of the multi-purpose towel  1102  may be draped over the top of the bench seat  1202  and the drawstring  1106  may be pulled tight and threaded through the eyelets  1122  to secure the hood portion  1104  over the back of the seat  1202 . By threading the drawstring  1106  and  1114  through the eyelets  1122 , the towel  112  may be pulled tightly across a top of the bench seat  1202 . 
       FIG. 12B  depicts a side view  1210  the multi-purpose towel  1102  of  FIG. 11  folded in half lengthwise and depicting one of the eyelets  1122 , in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In this example, the hood portion  1104  extends from the body portion and then tapers toward the front. A top of the hood portion  1104  may be sown along a seam  1105 . 
     In the illustrated example, only the drawstring  1106  is shown, but it should be appreciated that a second drawstring  1114  (or second portion of the same drawstring) is present on the other side of the towel  112 . The drawstring  1106  extends through a fastener  1110  and curls back onto itself, fastened by a coupling element  1112  and forming a loop  1108 . 
       FIG. 12C  depicts a view  1220  of a fastener  1110  coupled to a loop  908  formed from a first portion  106  of a drawstring, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The coupling element  112  can be configured to secure an end of the drawstring to itself to secure the loop  1108 . The coupling element  1112  may be formed from an adhesive or from a heat shrink type of material, which secures the end of the drawstring. 
     The fastener  1110  may be implemented as a button or post that can be coupled to the drawstring and that can fit through the eyelets  1122  in the hood portion  1104 . While the illustrated examples of  FIGS. 1-12C  have shown a fastener  1110  with two holes, it should be understood that the fastener  1110  may have a single hole or opening or may be attached to the drawstring  1106  in another manner. Other embodiments are also possible. 
       FIG. 13  is a flow diagram of a method  1300  of coupling a multi-purpose towel to a seat without a headrest, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. At  1302 , the method  1300  may include arranging a hood portion of a towel over a back of a seat. In an example, the hood portion  1104  may be positioned over a headrest of a car seat or may be stretched over the end portion of a lounge chair. Other embodiments are also possible. 
     At  1304 , the method  1300  may include tightening a drawstring associated with the hood portion to apply a hoop stress to a portion of the seat. In an example, the drawstring may be tightened to draw the hood around the head rest or the end of the lounge chair. 
     At  1306 , the method  1300  may include coupling a first coupling mechanism of a first end portion of the drawstring to a second coupling mechanism of a second end portion of the drawstring to secure the towel to the seat. In an embodiment, the first coupling mechanism may be coupled to the second coupling mechanism by feeding the first coupling mechanism through a loop formed between a portion of the second end portion of the drawstring and a tab of the second coupling mechanism, as shown in  FIG. 5B , for example. 
     In another embodiment, the first coupling mechanism may be coupled to the second coupling mechanism by aligning a first magnet of the first coupling mechanism to a second magnet of the second coupling mechanism. In another embodiment, the first coupling mechanism may include a magnet and the second coupling mechanism can include a metal element, which may be aligned to the magnet to couple the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism. 
     In still another embodiment, the first coupling mechanism may include a clip or other structure configured to mate with a corresponding structure of the second coupling mechanism. Other coupling mechanisms may also be possible. 
       FIG. 14  depicts a flow diagram of a method  1400  of forming a multi-purpose towel, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. At  1402 , the method  1400  may include forming a towel including a hood portion having a channel to receive a drawstring. In some embodiments, a hood portion may be sewn onto a towel. In some embodiments, the channel may be formed by sowing a seam defining a channel along the peripheral edge of the hood portion. 
     At  1404 , the method  1400  may include a drawstring through the channel such that a first end and a second end of the drawstring may extend outside of the channel. In an example the first end may extend through a first opening  706  and the second end may extend through the second opening  906 . 
     At  1406 , the method  1400  may include attaching a first coupling mechanism to the first end and a second coupling mechanism to the second end of the drawstring. The first and second coupling mechanism may be any of the embodiments described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-12C . 
     At  1408 , the method  1400  can include forming eyelets in the hood portion of the towel. The eyelets may be formed by cutting a small slit or opening in the fabric and stitching around the opening. In some embodiments, a grommet or other device may be used to form and secure the opening or slit, which is configured to engage the coupling mechanism or fastener at the end of the drawstring. 
       FIG. 15A  depicts a front perspective view  1500  of a multi-purpose towel  112  coupled to a seat  1502  without a head rest, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. As discussed above and depicted in  FIG. 15B , the towel  112  includes a body portion  1102  and a hood portion  1104 . The second portion  1114  of the drawstring and its associated coupling mechanism or fastener  1118  may be threaded through the eyelets  1122 . 
       FIG. 15B  depicts a rear perspective view  1520  of the seat  1102  and multi-purpose towel  112  of  FIG. 15A . The backrest  1504  of the seat  1502  does not include a headrest. The hood portion  1104  may be pulled down behind the backrest  1504  and the second portion  1114  of the drawstring and its associated coupling mechanism or fastener  1118  may be threaded through the eyelets  1122 . In this example, the first portion  1106  of the drawstring and its associated coupling mechanism or fastener  1110  are not yet threaded through the eyelets  1122 . 
     In some embodiments, the first and second portions  1106  and  1114  of the drawstring may be formed from an elastic material that may pull the hood portion  1104  taught. In certain examples, by looping the drawstrings  1106  and  1114  through the eyelets  1122 , the drawstrings  1106  and  1114  may hold the hood portion  1104  down and secure the towel  112  tightly over the backrest  1504 . Other embodiments are also possible. 
       FIG. 16  depicts a flow diagram of a method  1600  of coupling a multi-purpose towel to a seat without a head rest, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. At  1602 , the method  1600  may include arranging a hood portion of the towel over a back of a seat. The body portion of the towel may be draped over the front portion of the seat. 
     At  1604 , the method  1600  can include tightening a drawstring associated with the hood portion to apply a hoop stress to a portion of the seat. In some embodiments, the drawstring may be formed from an elastic material that retracts to apply the hoop stress. In other embodiments, the drawstring may be pulled tightly and secured in tension to maintain the hoop stress. 
     At  1606 , the method  1600  may include selectively threading ends of the drawstring through eyelets in the hood portion to secure the towel to the back of the seat and to fit the towel to a seat with no headrest. The eyelets may be used to pull the hood portion down behind the seat. Other embodiments are also possible. 
     In conjunction with the apparatuses, devices, and methods described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-14 , a multi-purpose towel is disclosed that may include a hood portion and a body portion. The hood portion may be configured to secure one or more drawstrings. In an example, the hood portion may define a channel configured to secure a drawstring. In some embodiments, the drawstring may be replaced with first and second drawstrings, which may be sewn at a first end within the channel and which may include end portions that extend outside of the channel. A first end portion may be coupled to a first coupling mechanism and a second end portion may be coupled to a second coupling mechanism. 
     In some embodiments, the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism may each include a tab portion configured to attach to an end portion of the drawstring. The tab and a portion of the drawstring may cooperate to form a loop configured to secure a tab associated with the other end portion. In some embodiments, the coupling mechanism may include a magnet, a metallic element, an attachment element and corresponding structure, or any combination thereof. 
     In still other embodiments, eyelets may be formed in at least a hood portion of the multi-purpose towel. The coupling mechanism may be threaded through the eyelets (like a button) to secure the towel to a seat. By pulling the hood down behind the seat and threading the coupling mechanisms through the eyelets, the towel may be secured to a seat, providing a form-fitted seat cover configured to fit tightly to seats having headrests as well as seats that do not have headrests. Other embodiments are also possible. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the invention.