US20150041603A1

US20150041603A1 - Towel Device for Spin Biking

Info

Publication number: US20150041603A1
Application number: US13/964,216
Authority: US
Inventors: Genene Kinder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-08-12
Filing date: 2013-08-12
Publication date: 2015-02-12
Also published as: US20160145786A1

Abstract

A towel device for spin biking made from towel material that is sewed with two tunnel-like regions that slip over the bike's handle bars. The left and right sides of the device descend downward from the left and right handle bars and include pockets for cellphones, ID cards and the like. The device is easily manufactured, easily put on the bike and removed, and totally washable just as a towel. Because it is typically towel material, it can also be used directly as a towel for wiping face and body.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to spin biking (or other biking) accessories and more particularly to a towel device for spin biking that can hold cell phones, ID cards and the like while spin biking.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Spin biking is a fitness sport typically performed in a fitness studio or class where the participant exercises on a fixed bicycle that usually has a heavy, weighted flywheel that is mechanically linked to the pedals. The degree of wheel resistance is typically adjustable by the participant. Many such spin biking studios accompany the biking with lights and music to create an energized atmosphere. Spin biking is usually taught by a licensed instructor.
A spin bike is generally different from a real bicycle and is designed much more like a road bike. The handle bars usually point in a forward direction away from the rider.
A typical spin bike participant in an indoor class will typically bring a towel and drape it across the handle bars in front of them to hold objects like cellphones, ID cards and the like. However, a standard towel is prone to slipping off and allowing all of the objects to fall onto the floor.
It would be advantageous to have a towel device that could hold objects on the handle bars of a spin bike without slipping off and falling and that could also be used as a real towel for wiping face and body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a towel device for spin biking (or other biking) that overcomes the problems of the prior art. The device is made from towel material that is sewed with two tunnel-like regions that slip over the bike's handle bars. The left and right sides of the device descend downward from the left and right handle bars and include pockets for cellphones, ID cards and the like. The device is easily manufactured, easily put on the bike and removed, and totally washable just as a towel. Because it is towel material, it can also be used directly as a towel for wiping face and body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Attention is now drawn to several drawings that illustrate features of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the device attached to a spin bike.

FIG. 2 shows a front-on view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 on the handle bars.

Several drawings and illustrations have been provided to aid in understanding the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a towel device that is very useful for spin biking or regular biking. The device is typically made of towel material and is sewed with two tube-like channels that are adapted to be slipped over the bike's handle bars. The outsides of the device drape downward and contain pockets, usually on the outside, to hold cellphones, ID cards and other objects during biking. The device can be removed from the handle bars and used directly as a towel at any time. Alternatively, a second towel (or other object) can be placed in a flat center region between the handlebars.
Turning to FIG. 1, a side view of an embodiment of the present invention 3 can be seen slipped over the handle bars 2 of a spin bike 1. FIG. 2 shows a front-on view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 on the handle bars 2. The device is characterized by having a sewed seam 6 on each side of a central flat region 7. The seam 6 allows the material to form two tube-like regions or loops 8 that can slip on and off the handle bars 2. The region 9 outside the tubes 8 drapes down on each side of the handle bars 2. This region can have various pockets 4 sewed-on pockets that can contain objects 5 like cellphones and the like.
The flat central region 7 of the device lies relatively level during service and can be used as a table to hold a wiping towel, reading material or anything else that may need to be available during the exercise session.
The device 3 can be easily removed from the handle bars 2 and used directly as a towel. Alternatively, it can be folded for storage. Since the preferred material is towel material, the device can be easily washed just as any towel would be. While towel material is the preferred material, any flexible material may be used including other clothes and plastic materials.
FIG. 1 shows two pockets 4 on the side 9 of the descending material; however, any number of pockets or no pockets is also within the scope of the present invention. The pockets 4 may optionally have covers that button, zipper or otherwise attach and close, and the pockets 4 may have multiple compartments. Pockets can be any shape or size and can be tailored to hold any virtually any item. In particular, a closed pocket can hold a music device such as an iPod™ or other device, or a combination cell phone and music device. Ports can be sewed into the device for earphone wires, and special pockets can be provided to hold earphones.
While sewing tube-like structures on the device is the preferred way of attaching it to the bike, any way of attaching can be used. In particular, one or more flaps with zippers, buttons or other fasteners may be used, or the device can be tied onto the bike with strings such as an apron.
The device can be easily manufactured from a towel or a towel fragment using a sewing machine and sewing techniques known in the art. Alternatively, it can be manufactured from stock lengths of material. Because of its simplicity and usefulness, the present invention is cost effective to manufacture and a useful accessory for spin biking. While towel material is preferred, any material is within the scope of the present invention.
Also, the preferred embodiments of the invention are directed at spin biking; however, other embodiments can be used with regular bicycles, especially bicycles used for exercise.
Accessories can include a cord to secure the device to the bike, extra pockets, pockets with zippers or other closing methods, various colors and styles and other sewed or fabricated devices that can optionally attach to the main body or sides of the invention.
Several descriptions and illustrations have been provided of the present invention. One with skill in the art will realize that numerous changes and variations are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes and variations is within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A spin bike accessory comprising:

a generally rectangular cloth member sewed with a two lateral seams forming a pair of tunnel-like loops adapted to allow insertion of a spin bike's handle bars into the tunnel-like loops so that said member can hang on the handlebars in a hanging configuration;

wherein, in said hanging configuration, the member has a relatively flat central portion between the handlebars and two outer descending portions outside of said handlebars, and

wherein, said outer descending portions include one or more sewed-on exterior pockets.

2. The spin bike accessory of claim 1 wherein said cloth member is towel material.

3. The spin bike accessory of claim 1 wherein said flat central portion and each of said descending portions are approximately equal sized.

4. The spin bike accessory of claim 1 wherein there are four sewed-on exterior pockets.

5. The spin bike accessory of claim 1 wherein said cloth member has a width approximately equal to each handle bars' length.

6. The spin bike accessory of claim 1 wherein the flat central portion has a length approximately equal to said handle bars' separation.

7. The spin bike accessory of claim 1 wherein said member has a folded configuration and can be folded for storage.

8. A method of creating a spin bike accessory comprising:

cutting an approximately rectangular piece of cloth;

sewing a pair of tunnel-like loops into said piece using two lateral seams at approximately ⅓ and ⅔ length forming a central section and two end sections;

sewing a seam around said piece;

sewing a plurality of pockets on at least one of said end sections.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said cloth is towel material.

10. The method of claim 9 including sewing two pockets on each of said end sections.

11. A spin bike accessory comprising:

a generally rectangular cloth member of towel material sewed with a two lateral seams forming a pair of loops adapted to allow insertion of a spin bike's handle bars into the loops so that said member can hang on the handlebars in a hanging configuration;

wherein, in said hanging configuration, the member has a relatively flat central portion between the handlebars and two outer descending portions outside of said handlebars;

wherein, said outer descending portions include a plurality of sewed-on exterior pockets; and,

wherein said flat central portion and each of said descending portions are approximately equal sized.

12. The spin bike accessory of claim 11 wherein said cloth member has a width approximately equal to each handle bars' length.

13. The spin bike accessory of claim 11 wherein the flat central portion has a length approximately equal to said handle bars' separation.

14. The spin bike accessory of claim 11 wherein there are four sewed-on exterior pockets.

15. The spin bike accessory of claim 11 wherein said member has a folded configuration and can be folded for storage.