US20230068051A1

US20230068051A1 - Towel with magnets

Info

Publication number: US20230068051A1
Application number: US17/459,063
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael MCGOWAN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-08-27
Filing date: 2021-08-27
Publication date: 2023-03-02

Abstract

A towel having a plurality of magnets and pockets is provided. In one embodiment, a towel includes magnets in rows, whereby a folding of the towel aligns some magnets with other magnets and thereby facilitates a hanging of the towel on other objects. The pockets are configured on the towel such that when the towel is folded the pockets are within the folds of the towel to ensure that objects placed in the pockets are secured within the folds of the towel. In certain embodiments, the towel can have two surfaces. One surface can be of a smooth material while the other surface can be of a rough material. In one embodiment, the invention is a foldable piece of material with magnets configured on the piece such that a folding of the piece allows the piece to be hung on an item via the interaction of the magnets.

Description

FIELD

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to towels. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to towels having magnets and/or pockets.

BACKGROUND

In many households there are textile articles such as towels, kitchen towels, kitchen mittens, aprons and other textile articles designed for use mainly in the kitchen and bathroom. For tidiness, convenience, and cleanliness, these articles are usually hung on front of microwaves, dishwasher, ovens, stoves and ranges in the kitchen and in the bathroom placed on towel racks, shower bar, hooks, rings, the back of a chair, and so on to keep the towels from falling on the ground. Embodiments of the present invention enable the hanging of such articles in a convenient, stationary manner, and clean by keeping the towel from falling on the ground.
Often a person who exercises at a gym carries an ordinary household towel to absorb perspiration generated through exercise. It is cumbersome for a person to grasp a towel while using exercise equipment, making it desirable to locate a clean resting place for the towel. This often results in the exerciser repeatedly searching for a clean resting place for the towel when moving from exercise machine to exercise machine. Since ordinary towels lack the means for self-support, they are often placed on usable portions of exercise equipment within the user's close proximity of their gym towel that typically fall of the bar and/or bench to have the towel end up on the dirty ground. It will also act as a place holder to interfere with other exercisers attempting to use the exercise equipment for water refills and bathroom breaks.
Also, exercise clothing does not often include pockets or an available locker for personal property. The exerciser lacks pockets and/or sealable pockets to carry possessions such as keys, cellphone, credit cards, cash, tablet, and health club membership identification to achieve hands free gym towel without the need of caring a wallet and/or purse. Towels incorporating pockets are known; however, these pockets are large and cover a substantial portion of the towel, thereby limiting the useful absorption area and are generally impractical, and further burdening the user to locate a clean, non-obstructive resting place, and available gym locker.
There is a need to provide a towel to facilitate temporary attachment to, for example, members used in the exercise settings, affording the user a clean non-intrusive resting place for the towel instead of the dirty ground. Also, there is a need to provide smaller, pockets and/or on a towel to allow the user to carry personal possessions while not needing a purse, wallet, and/or carry around the gym to be put again on the ground to get dirty, kicked, and stepped on.
There is a need for a towel to facilitate personal safety property in the sporting field. Runners will run often with just a towel. There is a need for runners to be able to take their emergency safety equipment such as cellphone to call for help, home or car key, State Identification or Drivers License, cash and credit card in one safe, clean, and stationary towel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a towel including a first surface having a first material, a second surface having a second material; a plurality of magnets affixed to the towel, the plurality of magnets configured in one or more rows; and a plurality of pockets affixed to the towel for receiving and holding objects. The first surface can be made of a smooth material. The second surface can be of a rough material. In one embodiment, the plurality of magnets can be configured to facilitate the wrapping of the towel to engage the magnets together about a portion of a garment to thereby hang the towel on the garment. In some embodiments, the plurality of pockets can be configured to facilitate the storing of said objects within the folds of the towel when the towel is folded.
In another aspect, the invention is directed to a foldable article having a piece of foldable material; a plurality of magnets configured in one or more rows and placed on the piece; wherein the piece can be folded on itself to thereby produce a folding of said piece and an alignment of a first set of the plurality of magnets with a second set of the plurality of magnets; wherein said folding and said alignment facilitate a removable attachment of the piece to an item to thereby hang the piece on the item. In one embodiment, the plurality of magnets is removably placed on the piece. In other embodiments, the plurality of magnets is embedded into the piece. In yet other embodiments, the plurality of magnets is placed on the piece in pockets affixed to the piece for the purpose of receiving and holding the plurality of magnets. In one embodiment, the plurality of magnets comprises at least two rows of magnets. In certain embodiments, said item is an athletic short.
In one embodiment, the piece of foldable material is a towel material. In some embodiments, the piece of foldable material includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface is made of a first material and the second surface is made of a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material are different in material composition and/or texture.
In some embodiments, the foldable article further includes at least one pocket attached to the piece for receiving and holding an object. In one embodiment, the pocket is attached on the piece so that the object can be stored securely within a folding of the piece.
In yet another aspect, the invention concerns a method of manufacturing an article. The methods involve providing a first surface having a first material; providing a second surface having a second material; attaching the first surface to the second surface so that the first material and the second material are opposite one another; affixing a plurality of magnets to the first surface and/or to the second surface, the plurality of magnets configured in one or more rows; and affixing a plurality of pockets to the first surface for receiving and holding objects.
In one embodiment, the first surface comprises a smooth material and the second surface comprises a rough material. In some embodiments, the plurality of magnets is configured to facilitate the wrapping of the towel to attract the magnets together around the bar to thereby hang the towel on the equipment.
Additional features and advantages of the embodiments disclosed herein will be set forth in the detailed description that follows, and in part will be clear to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the embodiments disclosed herein. The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the disclosure, and together with the description explain the principles and operations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by references to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is perspective view showing one example of how to use the embodiment of FIG. 1 to be used over the garment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another exemplary use of the embodiment of FIG. 1 to be hung on a bar for open viewing of pockets.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing yet another exemplary use of the embodiment of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing yet another exemplary use of the embodiment of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 additionally showing a partial view of the bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 is a view showing yet another exemplary use of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the kitchen.

FIG. 8 is a view showing yet another exemplary use of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the bathroom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are set forth in this application. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom.
Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components related to the system. Accordingly, the device components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In general, the embodiments described herein relate to a foldable article having magnets configured to facilitate the hanging of the article onto other articles via the attraction of the magnets included in said article. In some embodiments, the article is made of absorbent material on at least one side of the article. In certain embodiments, the article has a first side made of a first material, and a second side made of a second material. In one embodiment, the article has one side that is a towel made of absorbent material. In one embodiment, the article includes pockets. In certain embodiments, the pockets are configured to facilitate the receiving and holding of personal items such a cell phone, a credit card, state identification card, tablet, and the like. In other embodiments, a foldable article with magnets and pockets is configured to facilitate the carrying and storage of a variety of said items. In some embodiments, a foldable article with magnets and pockets is configured to facilitate the hanging of the article on or about any other article that allows interaction between the magnets of the foldable article. In one embodiment, the pockets of a foldable article with magnets are configured to facilitate the carrying and storage of items within the foldable article in its folded configuration. In certain embodiments, the foldable article with magnets is configured to facilitate a positional adjustment and/or removal of the magnets. In one embodiment, the foldable article with magnets is a towel having two sides, wherein a first side is a soft (for example, wiping the front of a stove, electric stove top, TV screen, and the like), and wherein a second side is a more textured surface for general use.
Referencing FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the invention concerns a towel 100 that includes a number of magnets 105A and 105B suitably affixed to or embedded in towel 100. In some embodiments, as illustrated, magnets 105A and 105B can be arranged in rows spaced at a suitable distance to facilitate specific uses. Towel 100 can include any number of rows of magnets 105A and 105B, including one row, two rows, three rows, and the like. In certain embodiments, towel 100 can include a number of pockets, such as pockets 110A and 110B, for receiving and holding any type of item. By way of example, pocket 110A can be configured to receive and hold cell phone 115, and pocket 110B can be configured to receive and hold credit card 120.
Referencing FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , towel 100 can be folded longitudinally a number of times, and in this embodiment, folded transversely one time to achieve a configuration wherein magnets 105A and 105B (not shown in FIG. 2 ) interact to facilitate the wrapping of towel 100 around some other object. Cell phone 115 and credit card 120 are safely stored within folded towel 100.
Referencing FIG. 4 , in one exemplary use, towel 100 can be hung on barbell 125 of a bench press apparatus 130. Advantageously, magnets 105A and 105B (not shown in FIG. 4 ) attract one another to thereby create a closing fold of towel 100 that wraps around barbell 125.
Referencing FIG. 5 , in another exemplary use, towel 100 can be hung on garment 135 worn by person 140. Advantageously, magnets 105A (not shown in FIG. 4 ) and 105B attract one another to thereby create a closing fold of towel 100 that wraps about a portion of garment 135. In the example of FIG. 5 , garment 135 is an athletic short. In other exemplary use cases, garment 135 can be any garment made of a suitable material that allows the magnetic interaction between magnets 105A and 105B.
Referencing FIG. 6 , in one embodiment towel 100 can have first side 145 and second side 150. First side 145 can be made of, for example, a soft texture and/or material for especial uses, such as wiping down a stove, a television screen, electric stove top, bathroom mirror, and the like. Second side 150 can be made of, for example, a rough texture and/or material for general purposes. For example, side 150 can be made of a textured, absorbent material found generally in towels for drying a person's body of sweat or water. In some embodiments, segments (not shown in FIG. 5 ) of side 145 and/or side 150 can be made of different types of textures and/or materials to offer additional uses for towel 100.
Referencing FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , the towel 100 may be folded transversely one time to achieve a configuration wherein magnets 105A (not shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 ) and 105B interact to facilitate the wrapping of towel 100 around some other object such as an oven door handle, towel rack, bathroom bars, and the like.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable article comprising:

a piece of foldable material;

a plurality of magnets configured in one or more rows and placed on the piece;

wherein the piece can be folded on itself to thereby produce a folding of said piece and an alignment of a first set of the plurality of magnets with a second set of the plurality of magnets;

wherein said folding and said alignment facilitate a removable attachment of the piece to an item to thereby hang the piece on the item.

2. The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets is removably placed on the piece.

3. The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets is embedded into the piece.

4. The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets is placed on the piece in pockets affixed to the piece for the purpose of receiving and holding the plurality of magnets.

5. The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets comprises at least two rows of magnets.

6. The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets is configured to facilitate the wrapping of the towel about a portion of equipment, bar, and the like to thereby hang the towel.

7. The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the piece of foldable material is a towel material.

8. The foldable article of claim 1, wherein the piece of foldable material comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and wherein the first surface is made of a first material and the second surface is made of a second material, and wherein the first material and the second material are different in material composition and/or texture.

9. The foldable article of claim 1, further comprising at least one pocket attached to the piece for receiving and holding an object.

10. The foldable article of claim 9, wherein the pocket is attached on the piece so that the object can be stored securely within a folding of the piece.

11. A towel comprising:

a first surface having a first material;

a second surface having a second material;

a plurality of magnets affixed to the towel, the plurality of magnets configured in one or more rows; and

a plurality of pockets affixed to the towel for receiving and holding objects.

12. The towel of claim 11, wherein the first surface comprises a smooth material.

13. The towel of claim 11, wherein the second surface comprises a rough material.

14. The towel of claim 11, wherein the plurality of magnets is configured to facilitate the wrapping of the towel about a portion of a garment to thereby hang the towel on the garment.

15. The towel of claim 11, wherein the plurality of pockets is configured to facilitate the storing of said objects within the folds of the towel when the towel is folded.

16. A method of manufacturing an article:

providing a first surface having a first material;

providing a second surface having a second material;

attaching the first surface to the second surface so that the first material and the second material are opposite one another;

affixing a plurality of magnets to the first surface and/or to the second surface, the plurality of magnets configured in one or more rows; and

affixing a plurality of pockets to the first surface for receiving and holding objects.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first surface comprises a smooth material.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second surface comprises a rough material.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of magnets is configured to facilitate the wrapping of the towel about a portion of a garment to thereby hang the article on the garment.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of pockets is configured to facilitate the storing of said objects within the folds of the towel when the towel is folded.