AU2015252052B2

AU2015252052B2 - Towel Holding Device

Info

Publication number: AU2015252052B2
Application number: AU2015252052A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Edward Joseph Khoury; Dean John Tinley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-11-04
Filing date: 2015-11-03
Publication date: 2019-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-03
Also published as: AU2015252052A1

Abstract

Abstract A towel holding device (10) comprising a body (12) having apertures (14) for receiving posts (16) of a headrest (18) of a seat (20) in a vehicle such that the 5 body (12) is supported on a top surface (22) of the seat (20). A plurality of openings (32) are provided in the body (12) for receiving portions of a towel (42). The openings (32) are provided with a securing mechanism for retaining the portions of the towel (42) within the openings (32). co oo Lc

Description

“Towel Holding Device”

Field of the Invention [001] The present invention relates to device for holding towels in place in vehicles.

Background to the Invention [002] Occupants of vehicles will often place a towel over the seat in order to protect the seat from dirt or moisture. For example, when returning from the beach, the occupant may have damp clothes and may therefore place a towel over their seat before entering the vehicle to keep the seat dry and free from sand. Ensuring that the towel remains in place covering both the base and back of the seat however can be difficult. Often, simply sitting on the towel will pull the towel off the back of the seat. The towel may also simply slide off the back of the seat, if the person leans forward.

[003] The present invention relates to a device to be used with seats in a vehicles to retain a standard towel in place for protection of the seat.

Summary of the Invention [004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a towel holding device comprising:

a body having apertures for receiving posts of a headrest of a seat in a vehicle such that the body is supported on a top surface of the seat; and a plurality of openings provided in the body for receiving portions of a towel; wherein the openings are provided with a securing mechanism for retaining the portions of the towel within the openings.

[005] Preferably the body is elongate in shape such that the body includes first and second ends and first and second sides.

2015252052 03 Nov 2015 [006] In a preferred embodiment, the securing mechanism comprises a narrowed end portion in each of the openings.

[007] In a preferred embodiment, each of the openings is teardrop-shaped such that the opening includes a circular end portion adjacent the second side of the body and the narrowed end portion comprises a generally linear slot oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body adjacent the first side of the body.

[008] In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a first opening adjacent the first end of the body, a second opening adjacent the second end of the body and a central opening provided adjacent a midpoint of the body.

[009] Preferably there is provided a first aperture between a midpoint of the body and the first end of the body and a second aperture provided between the midpoint of the body and the second end of the body.

[010] In one embodiment, the apertures include inwardly extending flexible tabs to engage in use with the posts.

[011] In one embodiment, recessed portions are provided in an upper surface of the body around the apertures extending from each of the apertures towards the midpoint of the body.

[012] Preferably first and second ends of the body are arcuate in shape.

[013] Preferably the first and second sides of the body are curved such that the width of the body adjacent the midpoint is less than adjacent the first and second ends thereof.

[014] In one embodiment, the body portion is provided with a plurality of transverse slots to provide flexibility in the body of the towel holding device to allow it to better conform to the shape of the top surface of the seat.

2015252052 03 Nov 2015

Brief Description ofthe Drawings [015] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which:

[016] Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a towel holding device in accordance with the present invention;

[017] Figure 2 is a view of a seat of a vehicle prior to installation of the towel holding device;

[018] Figure 3 is a view of the seat of the vehicle with the towel holding device installed; and [019] Figure 4 is a view of the towel holding device supporting a towel against the surface of the seat.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [020] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a towel holding device 10 comprising a body 12 having apertures 14 for receiving posts 16 of a headrest 18 of a seat 20. The seat 20 comprises a standard vehicle seat wherein the headrest 18 is supported above a top surface 22 of the seat 20 by a pair of posts 16. The posts 16 are received in holes provided in the top surface 22 of the seat 20 and can slide up or down relative to the seat 20 to adjust the height of the headrest 18.

[021] In the embodiment shown, the body 12 is elongate in shape such that the body 12 includes first and second ends 24 and 25 and first and second sides 26 and 27. The body 12 is formed of a planar member of suitable material, such as a flexible plastic material.

[022] The apertures 14 are provided for receiving the posts 16 of the headrest 18 such that the body 12 is supported on the top surface 22 of the seat 20. In the embodiment shown, there is provided a first aperture 14 provided between a midpoint of the body 12 and the first end 24 of the body 12 and a second aperture 14 provided between the midpoint of the body 12 and the second end 25 of the body 12. When the body 12 is secured on the

2015252052 03 Nov 2015 top surface 22 of the seat 20 by insertion of the posts 16 through the apertures 14, a lower surface 28 of the body 12 rests on the top surface 22 and an upper surface 29 of the body is located adjacent the headrest 18. The first side 26 of the body 12 is located adjacent a front surface 34 of the backrest 35 of the seat 20 and the second side 27 is located adjacent a rear surface 36 of the backrest 35 of the seat 20.

[023] The apertures 14 are each provided with a plurality of flexible tabs 15. The flexible tabs 15 extend inwardly into the openings 14 such that the flexible tans 15 engage with the posts 16 of the headrest 18. The flexible tabs 15 thereby restrict movement of the body 12 relative to the posts 16 in use.

[024] Recessed portions 30 are provided in the upper surface 29 of the body 12 around the apertures 14. The recessed portions 30 are elongate and extend from each of the apertures 14 towards the midpoint of the upper surface 29 of the body 12. The recessed portions 30 are provided for receiving parts of the headrest 18 located around the posts 16.

[025] In the embodiment shown, the first and second ends 24 and 25 of the body 12 are arcuate in shape. The first and second sides 26 and 27 of the body 12 are also slightly curved such that the width of the body 12 is less adjacent the midpoint than adjacent the first and second ends 24 and 25.

[026] The body 12 is also provided with a plurality of openings 32. In the embodiment shown, there is provided a first opening 32 provided adjacent the first end 24, a second opening 32 provided adjacent the second end 25 and a central opening 32 provided adjacent the midpoint of the body 12.

[027] Each of the openings 32 is provided with a securing mechanism such that when a portion of a towel 42 is inserted through the opening 32, the securing mechanism engages the towel 42 to restrict removal of the towel 42 from the opening 32. The securing mechanism is provided in the form of a narrowed end portion 39 of the opening 32. Each opening 32 includes a narrowed end portion 39 provided adjacent the first side 26 of the body 12.

2015252052 03 Nov 2015 [028] Each of the openings 32 is generally teardrop-shaped such that the opening 32 includes a circular end portion 38 adjacent the second side 27 of the body 12 and the narrowed end portion 39 comprises a generally linear slot oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 12. Portions of the towel 42 may therefore be secured within the openings 32 by inserting through the circular end portion 38 and then sliding towards the first side 26 of the body 12 into the narrowed end portion 39.

[029] The body portion 12 is also provided with a plurality of transverse slots 40. In the embodiment shown, the slots 40 are provided adjacent each of the first and second openings 32 on sides thereof adjacent midpoint of the body

12. The slots 40 provide flexibility in the body 12 of the towel holding device 10 to allow it to better conform to the shape of the top surface 22 of the seat

20.

[030] In use, the towel holding device 10 may be secured to the seat 20 by removing the headrest 18, placing the towel holding device 10 on the top surface 22 of the seat 20 and reinstalling the headrest 18 such that the posts 16 thereof pass through the apertures 14. The towel holding device 10 may then be left in place until required for use.

[031] When it is required to support a towel 42 from the seat 20, a first end of the towel 42 is placed adjacent the towel holding device 10. Corners of the first end of the towel 42 may be passed through the first and second openings 32 and secured as described previously. A central portion of the first end of the towel 42 can be secured through the central opening 32. The towel 42 can then be placed in positioned to rest over the front surface 34 of the backrest 35 of the seat 20 and over the base of the seat 20.

[032] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.

Claims

5 1. A towel holding device comprising:

a body having apertures for receiving posts of a headrest of a seat in a vehicle such that the body is supported on a top surface of the seat, the body being elongate in shape such that the body includes first and second ends and first and second sides; and

10 a plurality of openings provided in the body for receiving portions of a towel; wherein the openings each include a narrowed end portion comprising a slot oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body adjacent the first side of the body for retaining the portions of the towel within the openings.
2. A towel holding device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the 15 openings is teardrop-shaped such that the opening includes a circular end portion adjacent the second side of the body.
4. A towel holding device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided a first opening adjacent the first end of the body, a second opening adjacent the second end of the body and a central

20 opening provided adjacent a midpoint of the body.
5. A towel holding device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is provided a first aperture between a midpoint of the body and the first end of the body and a second aperture provided between the midpoint of the body and the second end of the body.

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6. A towel holding device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures include inwardly extending flexible tabs to engage in use with the posts.
7. A towel holding device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein recessed portions are provided in an upper surface of the body 30 around the apertures extending from each of the apertures towards the midpoint of the body.

2015252052 12 Aug 2019
8. A towel holding device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein first and second ends of the body are arcuate in shape.
9. A towel holding device in accordance with any one the preceding claims, wherein the first and second sides of the body are curved such that the width

5 of the body adjacent the midpoint is less than adjacent the first and second ends thereof.
10. A towel holding device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion is provided with a plurality of transverse slots to provide flexibility in the body of the towel holding device to allow it to better

10 conform to the shape of the top surface of the seat.