GB2452486A - Towel wearable as a garment - Google Patents

Abstract

A wearable towel 1 comprises a generally rectangular sheet of material having at least one first fastening portion 5 and at least one second fastening portion 6, wherein in use the towel is wrapped around the user and the first and second fastening portions are releasably connected so as to enable the towel to be fitted to, and worn securely by, the user. The at least one second fastening portion may be in the form of a tab, which may be folded or retracted for storage in a pocket when not required. The first and second fastening portions are preferably hook and loop fastener.

Description

This invention relates to a towel.

Towels are commonly used for drying a person's body after bathing, swimming, etc. Larger towels are also commonly used to provide covering for a person's body in the vicinity of swimming pools, etc or to protect a person's modesty by wearing a towel around them while they change into and out of swimming apparel.

When a lowel is to he Worn, or is otherwise used to cover parts of a person's body, with a conventional towel the user has to either hold the towel in position or perhaps fold one corner of the towel underneath another part of the towel to try to keep in place. Towels fastened in this manner are prone to become unfastened and to fall to the ground, with embarrassing results! The present invention arose in an attempt to provide an impro'ed wearable towel.

According to the present invention there is provided a wearable towel, comprising at least OflC portion of a first fastening medium provided towards or at one edge of the towel and tab means formed of a medium which cooperatively and releasably fastens with the first fastening medium provided at one or more locations on the towel, wherein the towel may he worn by wrapping it around the user and releasahly connecting the fastening in one of a finite or infinite number of positions so as to enable the towel to he fitted to the user and worn securely by the user.

The portion of first fastening medium is preferably one or niore strips of material.

These are preferably positioned generally parallel to said edge of the towel.

Preferably, the fasteners are respective components of a hook and loop fastening means. Most preferably this is a VELCRO'' or VELCROTM type system.

Preferably, the strip may he provided along the majority or all of the length of the towel towards or at the edge. One or more tabs may he provided mounted at or towards respective short edges of the towel in a position where they can fasten with the strips.

In a modification, a plurality of strips are provided, spaced apart from each other and a corresponding plurality of tabs are provided.

l'he tabs may he provided in pairs, one at either short end of the towel so that the user may fasten the towel in a left or right handed configuration.

The or each strip may be spaced a distance from the very edge of the towel and this edge may he folded, in operation, over all or part of the strip so as to prevent the strip from being exposed.

i'he short edges of the towel may be arcuate. This allows for flexibility in wearing and avoids a thick double layer over the full extent of the towel. It also serves to visually distinguish the wearahle' towel from a conventional towel.

Pocket means may he provided for folding the tab hack into and securing in a pxket when not in use. Alternatively, the tabs may he elasticated or otherwise resiliently mounted so ihat they can he pulled out for use and retracted when not in use.

Embodiments of the invention will now he described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows a towel partially wrapped around a wearer; Figure 2 shows an unfastened towel; Figure 3 shows tab detail; and Figure 4 shows a carry bag.

Referring to Figure 1, an adjutahly wearable towel 1 is shown. In the example shown, this is generally rectangular and its shorter edges 2, 3 are generally arcuate.

however, these may he straight in other embodiments. Towards, hut spaced apart from, a top long edge 4 of the towel is a strip 5 of the hook or eye portion of a VELCROTM type fastening.

Note that other types of fastening may he used, such as other types of hook and loop fastening, adhesive materials of the type which can easily he fastened and unfastened repeatedly, other infinitely adjustable fastening system, or finitely adjusting fastening systems such as, one or more buttons, button holes, hooks and eyes, and so on.

Strip 5 extends generally the whole length of the towel in this embodiment. One or more cooperating tabs 6 arc provided towards the top edge of the short edges 2 and 3. If strip 5 is of hook material than lab 6 will he of loop material and vice versa so that these connect at any desire disposition. The part of the towel between the top of strip 5 and long edge 4 of the towel can he folded over, as partially shown at 4a in Figure I iii order to cover the exposed VELCRO I'M stripS. It can also cover a tab 6 when this is fastened to strip 5 and this prevents the VEI.CROTM strip 5 from undesirably contacting other matenals or Lxxlies.

In use, the towel is generally wrapped around a user with its top generally wrapped around the chest or waist, for example, of the user and then tab 6 is fastened to strip 5 at an appropriate position to hold the towel securely in place upon the user. Strip 4a is then folded over the VEl.CRO' material to conceal it. With the towel securely fastened, a user may therefore walk around in the secure knowledge that the towel will not slip. When it is desired to remove the towel, the user simply Ii fts up strip 4a if this has been placed over the VELCRO'TM and pulls the tab 6 away from strip 5.

Figure 2 shows a towel in an open position and shows two strips 6a and 6h. The provision of strips on both short edges 2, 3 of the towel enables the towel to he secured from left to right or from right to left as desired.

Figure 3 shows how in some embodiments a pocket 7 may be provided, in which a tab 6 can he located when the tab is not in use. The tab may he folded hack and secured with its free end in the pocket 7, or may he elastically mounted within the pocket 7 to he pulled out therefrom. Instead of a pocket, 7 may simply he a position of elasticated material from which the tab can he pulled.

In other embodiments, there may he more than OflC strip 5 spaced apart down the towel and corresponding additional tabs 6. This can produce a stronger joint hut will usually he unnecessary.

Figure 4 shows an example of a hag 10 which can receive the towel. If the towel has arcuate edges 2, 3 then the hack can he in a particularly attractive shape, as shown in Figure 4 having a straight edge and curved edge to receive the towel 1, which is shown schematically within the back in the figure. The bag is provided with a carrying means, such as a carrying strap II and, additionally or alternatively, a handle (not shown).

The towels may he provided in a number of different lengths and widths to suit different types of body size, such as small, medium, large, extra large, and so on. The towels may he provided in shorter lengths for men than women.

A significant advantage of the towel of the present invention is for use by children who can easily secure a towel themselves. With prior towels, a child would generally require a carer, parent or other person to secure a towel around them.

The towel can of course additionally he used for normal drying purposes and the strip 4a which covers the VELCROTM ensures that the VELCROThI surface will not rub against a person's skin. The instead of strip 4a may also he provided with a VELCROTI type material so that this secures against strip 5.

The towel is most preferably of a lightweight towelling material.

Claims (10)

1. Claims 1. A wearable towel, comprising at least one portion of a first fastening medium provided towards or at one edge of the towel and tab means formed of a medium which cooperatively and releasably fastens with the first fastening medium provided at One or more locations on the towel, wherein the towel may he worn by wrapping it around the user and releasably connecting the fastening in one of a finite or infinite number of positions so as to enable the towel to be fitted to the user and worn securely by the user.
2. 2. A towel as claimed in Claim I, wherein the first fastening material is provided as one or more strips.
3. 3. A towel as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the fasteners are respective components of a hxk and loop fastening means,
4. 4. A towel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the strip may he provided along the majority or all of the length of the towel towards or at the edge.
5. 5. A towel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of strips are provided, spaced apart from each other and a corresponding plurality of tabs are provided.
6. 6. A towel as claimed in any preceding claim, adapted for left and right handed fastening.
7. 7. A towel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the portion of first fastening medium is spaced from the very edge of the towel SO that the edge is loldable over the portion.
8. 8. A towel as claimed in any preceding claim, having arcuate short edges.
9. 9. A towel as claimed in any preceding claini, including pockets for receiving a tab when not in use.
10. 10. A wearable towel substantially as hereinhefore descnhed, with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings.