Abstract:
A towel for use after a shower, a bath, or a swim. The towel is arranged to stay closed about a wearer&#39;s body and at the same time allows his or her hands to be free. The towel affords the wearer privacy when changing clothing, for example, in a locker room. Also, when tied about the wearer, the towel allows him or her to sit comfortably on hot ground at the beach or other outdoor swim area. The towel can also be worn as a garment with an attractive and elegant appearance, and serve a number of other useful and desirable functions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending U.S. patent application No. 14/544,445 filed Jan. 7, 2015, titled Body Fitting Towel and which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to bath and beach towels, and particularly to a towel construction that offers certain desirable features in addition to drying the wearer&#39;s body. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the Known Art 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,743 (Feb. 13, 2001) discloses a beach tog a that is claimed to be capable of converting to fashionable dress attire. Further, U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0239290 (Sep. 19, 2013) describes a towel having a hood fixed to a top edge, and at least one pocket attached to the interior of the towel which is accessible to the user when the towel is wrapped about the torso. See also U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,685 (Nov. 4, 2008). All relevant portions of the foregoing references are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0006]    Notwithstanding the known art, the is a need for a towel which, in addition to drying and protecting the wearer, can be made to conform with the wearer&#39;s body at more than one location while maintaining an attractive and elegant appearance, and to serve other useful functions as well. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to the invention, a towel includes a generally rectangular absorbent fabric material having a pair of opposed long edges and a pair of opposed short edges. First and second sleeves are formed on the fabric material next to corresponding long edges of the material, wherein each sleeve opens at the opposed short edges of the material. A ribbon is disposed inside each sleeve such that the opposite ends of each ribbon are accessible to a user at the open ends of the sleeve. Each ribbon is stitched to the fabric material at two locations over the length of the sleeve in which the ribbon is disposed. Thus, the fabric material is prevented from gathering to a determined extent when the opposite ends of each ribbon are accessed by the user and tied to one another. 
         [0008]    For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    In the drawing: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a towel according to the invention, as seen from a front side of the towel; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the towel in  FIG. 1 , as seen from the back side of the towel; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged, plan view of a right end portion of the towel in  FIG. 1 , as seen from the front side of the towel; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, plan view of the right end portion of the towel in  FIG. 1 , as seen from the back side of the towel; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view of the towel when worn as a garment about the chest of a user; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a view of the towel when worn as a dress by the user; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a view of the towel when worn as a skirt by the user; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the towel as in  FIG. 1 , defining certain dimensions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a view of a front side of a towel  10  according to the invention, and  FIG. 2  is a view of the reverse side of the towel  10  in  FIG. 1 . The overall form, appearance, and dimensions of the towel  10  may resemble those of a conventional bath or beach towel when the towel  10  laid flat as in the drawing, and thus match the appearance of towels already owned by a user and stored at his or her home. The towel  10  can be made in various sizes appropriate for children and adults as listed, e.g., below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Age 
                 Width (in.) 
                 Length (in.) 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 2 to 3 
                 16 to 20 
                 34 to 37 
               
               
                 3 to 4 
                 20 to 24 
                 35 to 40 
               
               
                 4 to 6 
                 22 to 26 
                 36 to 45 
               
               
                 6 to 8 
                 24 to 28 
                 38 to 49 
               
               
                 adult 
                 26 to 34 
                 50 to 65 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0019]    The fabric from which the towel  10  is made can be selected from among, e.g., Egyptian cotton, pima cotton, or an organic cotton made from bamboo or cellulose from beech trees. The fabric should be pre-washed to avoid shrinkage. As seen in  FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 , and like conventional bath towels, the front side of the towel  10  may be imprinted a pleasing design or a solid color, as desired. As detailed below, the towel  10  also has a number of desirable features. 
         [0020]    As shown in the drawing, the towel  10  has hems or sleeves  12 ,  14  that are formed, e.g., by stitches that run parallel to and are spaced a certain distance from the long edges  16 ,  18  of the towel  10 . Opposite ends of the sleeves  12 ,  14  remain open at the short edges  20 ,  22  of the towel. When the towel  10  is laid flat, each sleeve  12 ,  14  is wide enough so that a length of a flat ribbon  24 ,  26  can also lie flat inside the sleeve over the length of the towel. The length of each ribbon  24 ,  26 , is such that opposite ends  24   a  and  24   b,  and  26   a  and  26   b,  of the ribbons extend by a short distance (e.g., not more than one inch) beyond each sleeve so that the exposed ends of each ribbon can be held, and the short edges  20 ,  22  of the towel  10  can be pushed inward or gathered so that the towel can be wrapped closely about the wearer&#39;s body when the ribbons are tied. See  FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 . The use of flat ribbons  24 ,  26  ensures that the long edges  16 ,  18  of the towel  10  can lie flat when the ribbons are untied, and allows the towel to be stored conveniently among existing towels that the user may already possess. The ribbons  24 ,  26  can be made of polyester or other fabric that is pre-washed to prevent them from shrinking when the towel  10  is washed. 
         [0021]    Depending on the size of the towel  10 , the width of the ribbons  24 ,  26  may range from about one-quarter to two inches. To limit or avoid the exposure of the ribbon ends  24   a,    24   b  and  26   a,    26   b  at the short side of the towel  10  when the towel is laid flat or folded for storage, the ribbon ends may be thickened by folding them back one or more times, or by otherwise configuring the ribbon ends to coincide with the short edges of the towel  10  while prevent the ends from retracting inside the sleeves  12 ,  14  so as to become inaccessible to the user. For example, a short length of a loop material may be adhered to the ends of each ribbon, and a corresponding length of a releasable hook material adhered inside the ends of each sleeve to keep the ribbon ends in place until withdrawn by the user. 
         [0022]    Each of the ribbons  24 ,  26  is also stitched or otherwise fastened directly to the towel  10 , preferably at two locations  28   a,    28   b,  and  30   a,    30   b,  over the length of each sleeve  12 ,  14 . By spacing the two stitch locations for each ribbon by at least  13  inches, the towel  10  can be prevented from gathering to such an extent as might choke or otherwise harm the wearer when the ribbons  24 ,  26  are exposed and tied to one another. The stitches also ensure that the ribbons cannot be completely withdrawn from the sleeves and possibly be lost, and that the ends of each ribbon are always accessible to the wearer. 
         [0023]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 , when a user steps out of a bath or shower, or while at the beach or a swimming pool, the user simply dons the towel  10 , gathers the towel about the ribbons to conform to the user&#39;s body, and ties the exposed ends of the ribbons to one another. In  FIG. 5 , the towel is worn around the user&#39;s chest. In  FIG. 6 , a third ribbon  40  is provided in an associated sleeve midway between the sleeves  12 ,  14 , so as to allow the user to gather and tie the towel about the waist as well. In  FIG. 7 , the towel is tied about the waist to be worn as a skirt, and will allow the user to sit comfortably on hot ground. And because each of the ribbons  24 ,  26  is stitched directly to the towel at two spaced locations as disclosed above, the towel  10  can be tied and worn safely around the user&#39;s neck to protect from wind or sun burn, or simply to keep warm. 
         [0024]    It will be understood that once the towel  10  is securely tied about the user&#39;s body, the towel will stay in place and leave the user&#39;s hands free. Further, closing the towel about the user&#39;s body will guarantee privacy in locker room settings, leaving the user free to change with no towel slips. 
         [0025]    As disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that while resembling an ordinary bath or beach towel in appearance, the inventive towel  10  can serve many different useful functions. For example: 
         [0026]    1. As a tote or beach bag if items to be carried are placed, e.g., on the back side of the towel, and opposite ends of each ribbon  24 ,  26  are withdrawn from the sleeves  12 ,  14  and tied to form two handles. 
         [0027]    2. As a garment like a skirt or dress, especially if a third sleeve with an associated ribbon are provided. 
         [0028]    3. Inside a vehicle to provide shade for occupants by tying the towel between handles on doors or other fixed objects in or on the vehicle. 
         [0029]    4. As a cover for a car seat, e.g., by tying one end of a ribbon around a head rest and placing the towel on the seat. As such, the towel will protect the user from hot and/or sticky seats. 
         [0030]    5. Inside a vehicle to protect the steering wheel and front seats from heating by tying one end of the towel to the driver&#39;s side door handle and the other end to the passenger side door handle. 
         [0031]    6. As a curtain for a small window by placing nails at opposites sides of the window, and forming loops at opposite ends of the ribbons for hanging on the nails. 
         [0032]    7. As a tablecloth by placing the towel on a picnic table and attaching the ends of each ribbon to the legs of the table. This will allow the tablecloth to remain fixed on the table even in the presence of wind or if accidently pulled. 
         [0033]    8. At a doctor&#39;s office or hospital. Because the towel can be tied around the chest or waist, across the front, the back, or the side of a patient, the towel allows a number of options for the doctor while providing privacy for the patient. 
         [0034]    9. As a protective garment when the user is in a rush and must leave a location quickly, for example, a burning hotel, house, or building. 
         [0035]    10. With folding chairs at the beach or pools to protect the user from hot or rough surfaces, and to prevent the user&#39;s knee, foot, or hand from slipping between the elastic strips forming the chair&#39;s surface. The towel can be laid down on the opened folding chair, and the ribbons tied to the chair frame to keep the towel in place. 
         [0036]    While the foregoing description represents preferred embodiments of the inventive towel, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention includes all such changes, modifications, and additions to the towel disclosed herein.