WO2005058080A1

WO2005058080A1 - Multipurpose sunbathing cloth

Info

Publication number: WO2005058080A1
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000022
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Scarfo'; Enrico Ambrosato; Carlo Pietro Cracco
Original assignee: Antonio Scarfo'; Enrico Ambrosato; Carlo Pietro Cracco
Priority date: 2003-12-18
Filing date: 2004-01-28
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Also published as: ITVI20030261A1

Abstract

A multipurpose sunbathing cloth (1; 10; 100) is disclosed, comprising openings (2, 3, 4; 101) provided for allowing the passage of the head (T) of the user (U1; U2) for wearing the cloth (1; 10; 100).

Description

MULTIPURPOSE SUNBATHING CLOTH.

The present invention is about a multipurpose sunbathing cloth, suitable for being used as a surface on which to lie down or as a towel in any other circumstance by a person in seaside places, swimming pools or other outdoor places in which people are exposed in the sun to get a sun-tan.

It is known that during holidays or periods of rest in beaches of seaside places, in swimming pools, on boats, in high altitude mountain huts or similar, the so called "sunbathing" cloths that the user lays down on the sand, on the bed or on the deck-chair on which then he settles down to expose himself in the sun are widely used.

Said cloths, made by different kinds of material such as, for example, sponge or mixed cotton textiles, usually have a rectangular shape which is well adapted to the bed's plane, but they are also available with other shapes. In addition to the aforesaid function, the common sunbathing cloths are suitable for being used as a towel, when the persons need to dry themselves after bathing at the sea, in a swimming pool, or after a shower. Therefore, the sunbathing cloths are used with this double purpose, in some cases always using the same cloth, in other cases replacing the wet cloth, just used for drying the body, with another clean or dry cloth. Moreover it is known that, in holiday or relaxing places, the persons change several times their clothes, like the bathing suit, during the same day, clothes that get dirty, especially after bathing, a shower or a protracted exposition in the sun. The vacationers can privately take off their dirty clothes and put on clean ones only inside proper structures, like bathing huts, generally available in the aforesaid places.

However, this state of affairs causes for the people a series of inconveniences not totally negligible, especially in consideration of the fact that they live it during holidays or periods of rest. A first inconvenience is that the bathing huts are often located far from where the people have placed their personal effects, for example an umbrella in bathing resorts.

So it commonly happens that, to reach the bathing hut, the persons leave unattended their place, with the well known problems that this action involves, such as the possibility of thefts. A second inconvenience is due to the fact that sometimes the bathing huts are already engaged by other users when one or more persons need to use them, so that these persons must wait also for several minutes before the bathing huts are available again, while the occupants are forced to hurry the operations to free them.

Both users thus note a poor service, with consequent inconveniences and their complaints.

Moreover, the needs of little children should not be overlooked, for whom said operations are frequently performed directly in the place where the family has positioned all its personal effects, so in presence of other persons going to the same place.

It is evident that, in such case, the adults who take care of the children are obliged to perform all the operations in a hurried way and with some embarrassment, not to harm the decorum of the public place in which they are. The cloth used to stretch out is often used to hide the child during his undressing and the wearing of the clothes, with the inevitable troubles due to the difficulties of the operations to be performed.

The present invention intends to solve the above mentioned inconveniences, which can be easily found in seaside and holiday places, visited by persons who want to obtain a sun-tan, such as a high altitude mountain hut.

In particular, main object of the invention is to make easier for the persons, with reference to the prior art, the execution of all the operations related to the drying of their own body or of their relatives one after bathing, especially in crowded public places, such as a beach. It is another object to allow said operations to be performed more rapidly than what happens now in similar situations.

It is a further object of the invention to allow the aforesaid operations to be carried out without causing inconveniences or embarrassment for the involved persons or the next ones. Said objects are obtained by a multipurpose sunbathing cloth which, according to the content of the main claim, comprises one or more openings able to allow the passage of at least the head of the user for wearing said cloth. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cloth has a substantially circular plan shape. According to other executive embodiments of the invention, the cloth has a polygonal plan shape, such as a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon or a substantially elliptic shape.

Thanks to these executive embodiments of the invention, the user can simply change his body position to expose himself in the sun, according to the desired direction in respect of the incidence of the sunrays.

Unlike what can be found in prior art, there is no need to orient the towel on its bearing surface, like sand, grass or a boat deck, every time at any hour of the day, for instance with its longer side oriented to the sunrays. In any case, the user always remains inside the cloth after performing any movement of his body from a position to another, because the distance from the cloth centre is almost the same for all its external points. Advantageously, the cloth according to the invention can be transformed in a garment, which substantially looks like a "poncho" when worn, when the user needs to dry his body and to change his clothes, for instance the bathing suit, without being compelled to use a properly adapted bathing hut.

More advantageously, all the objects are attained in an extremely practical and functional way, but most of all in keeping of the decorum of the place visited by the user, generally very crowded in the aforesaid circumstances. Still advantageously, the cloth according to the invention is fit to be used not only in public places, but also in private ones to dry themselves in efficient way after a normal shower in a private home's bathroom.

Moreover, the cloth according to the invention is advantageously easier to hang up on the clothes drier than a bath-robe, to which it can be rightly compared for its purpose. Said objects and advantages, and other ones better specified in the description following, will be better highlighted in the description of preferred embodiments of the invention given in an explanatory way, with reference to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a user who wears the sunbathing cloth of the invention; - Figure 2 is a plan view of the cloth of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a sectional view of a detail of the cloth of Figure 1 in two different utilizations;

- Figure 4 shows a user stretched out on a different embodiment of the cloth of Figure 1 ; and - Figure 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the cloth of Figure 1. The multipurpose sunbathing cloth of the invention is shown in Figure 1 , where it is generally indicated with numeral 1 while it is worn by a user Ui. According to the invention, the sunbathing cloth 1 comprises three openings, respectively indicated with numerals 2, 3, 4, which allows the passage of the head T and the arms Bi , B of the user Ui when he wants to wear the cloth 1. More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the cloth 1 comprises a first linear opening 2, which is extended across a first longitudinal direction Y and it is provided for allowing the passage of the head T of the user Ui. The cloth 1 then comprises a second and a third linear openings, respectively indicated with numerals 3, 4, symmetrically disposed with respect to the first longitudinal direction Y and across a second longitudinal direction X substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal direction Y. Said linear openings 3, 4 are made to allow the passage of the arms B-i, B₂ of the user Ui when he wants to wear the cloth 1. Therefore, it can be understood as from now that the multipurpose sunbathing cloth 1, normally spread out on any bearing surface, like the sand of a beach, a bed or a deck-chair, is easily transformable by the user Ui in an article to wear for drying the body, after a bath or a shower, or for replacing in a quick and elegant way the clothes used in these conditions, for instance a bathing suit. This avoids the user to resort to the structures provided at the seaside or similar places, like bathing huts, which are far from where his personal effects are placed, for privately changing his clothes.

Also in Figure 2 it can be noticed that each of the linear openings 2, 3, 4, is substantially provided at the central zone 1a of the cloth 1 and it has a substantially rectangular sectional shape.

In other embodiments, not shown in the figures, the three linear openings provided on the cloth could be placed according to longitudinal directions essentially parallel to each other. In further executive embodiments of the invention the sunbathing cloth could have a single linear opening, more specifically that developed according to any longitudinal direction, through which the user inserts his head to wear the cloth in a similar efficient way as described above.

In Figure 3 it is shown that the cloth 1 comprises a couple of opposite flaps 5, 6 each of them respectively applied to one of the lateral surfaces 1c, 1d of the cloth 1 , whose object is to cover each of the linear openings 2, 3, 4 when the cloth 1 is placed on a generic bearing surface.

This arrangement prevents the bearing surface, especially the sand of a beach, to make contact with the upper part of the cloth 1 , that is the part on which the user Ui leans on or stretches out, avoiding the known problems that this contact causes.

When the user Ui wears the sunbathing cloth 1 said flaps 5, 6 are easily moved from their initial position, being preferably made by flexible material, because of the introduction of the head T and the arms B-,, B₂ in the respective linear openings 2, 3, 4. According to the preferred embodiment hereby described, the sunbathing cloth 1 has a substantially circular plan shape.

Moreover it is evident that, in a further embodiment of the invention, one of them being shown in Figure 4, the cloth could have a different shape in plan, for instance a polygonal shape. The aforesaid Figure 4 shows in fact a user Ui stretched out on a cloth, generally indicated with numeral 10, which has a hexagonal plan shape.

It should be understood that, in other embodiments, the polygonal shape could be formed by a pentagon, an octagon, or other forms.

According with other not shown executive embodiments of the invention, the cloth could have a substantially elliptic plan shape, however suitable for having the double function of allowing the user to comfortably wear the cloth and of orienting his body following the desired direction in respect of the sunrays, without exiting from said cloth and without moving it.

Figure 5 shows another executive embodiment of the invention, in which the cloth, generally indicated with 100, comprises a linear cut 102 which is extended from the first linear opening 101 to the external edge 101 b of said cloth 100 across the first longitudinal direction Y'.

More specifically, the linear cut 102 is provided on its lateral edges 102a, 102b with opening/closing means 103 of known type, for example made by Velcro, automatic buttons, zip, magnetic buttons, hooks, loop fastenings, spring clips, buttons with buttonhole or other equivalents.

The shape of Figure 5 is conceived to facilitate the passage of the user's head when he wears the cloth 100: this is rather important for the persons having difficulties in their wearing movements for any reason. From the aforesaid description is thus easily deducible the usage system of the cloth according to the invention.

For example, the user Ui simply inserts his head T through the first linear opening 2 and his arms Bi, B₂ through the linear openings 3, 4 to wear the cloth 1 , for instance after a bath or a shower, in order to dry his body. Moreover, he can conveniently change his clothes, for instance the bathing suit, while he wears the cloth 1 , without needing to use the structures provided for these purposes in holiday resorts.

For informational purpose only, it is to be pointed out that the cloth 1 , once worn, covers the body of the user Ui almost until his knees. If the user Ui wants to use the sunbathing cloth 1 according to its usual "sunbathing" mode, he could spread it out on a bearing surface. The multipurpose sunbathing cloth of the invention could also be advantageously used as a towel on the beach, on a boat, in a swimming pool or also in high mountains, places in which the persons expose themselves in the sun to get a sun-tan.

The various embodiments allow the user not to continuously move the cloth for placing it according to the desired direction in respect of the sunrays. In fact, the user could merely turn his body, even of 360°, always remaining inside the surface covered by the cloth. Moreover, placing a beach umbrella at the central opening of the cloth spread out on the sand or on a meadow, an original isle-like could be obtained, on which the users could conveniently place their personal effects, like mostly bags of different kind, without getting dirty for the contact with the ground, such as the sand, as it happens instead in the prior art. Furthermore, the cloth of the invention could be made of any dimension or size, in function of the user's height, either being him a child or an adult. Just in view of the usually big size, the cloth claimed by the present invention better covers the deck-chair or the bed if compared with the common cloths of prior art, even extending over the armrests too. Thus the double advantage is obtained of having a more stable cloth when it is spread on the bearing surface, for instance in case of wind, and of better preserving the clean condition of the bearing surface itself, giving a better hygienic arrangement to the user. In other executive embodiments the shape of the openings could be different from the linear one described in the annexed drawings. For example, the opening through which the user's head is introduced could be realized with circular, crossed, squared, triangular, pentagonal or hexagonal shape, V-necked, high-necked, boat-necked, polo-necked, shirt-necked and so on. The openings through which the user's arms are introduced could be made with long sleeves or short sleeves, and they could be furthermore realized with circular, squared, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, crossed shape and so on. It is therefore apparent that the material from which the cloth of the invention is made could be of the same type generally used for these articles, such as sponge, cotton, nylon, linen, silk, acetate, just to list some of the numerous materials suitable for this object.

Moreover, the cloth according to the invention could have its surfaces decorated with any kind of colour, embroidery, printing or similar, and it can be furthermore provided with bags, hoods, hooks to hang it on a supporting structure, and so on.

On the basis of the aforesaid description, it should be understood that the cloth according to the invention achieves all its object and realizes all the previously mentioned advantages. Modifications to the cloth of the invention could be introduced in the productive stage, such as a plan shape different from the previously described ones, without limiting the advantage provided by the present invention. All the described and cited embodiments, even if not shown in the annexed drawings, when they should fall within the scope of protection of the following claims, should be considered protected by the present patent.

Claims

CLAIMS 1) A multipurpose sunbathing cloth (1 ; 10; 100) characterised in that it comprises one or more openings (2, 3, 4; 101 ) provided for allowing the passage of at least the head (T) of the user (U-i; U₂) for wearing said cloth (1 ; 10; 100). 2) The cloth (1 ; 10; 100) according to claim 1 ), characterised in that it comprises:

- a first linear opening (2; 101 ), extended across a first longitudinal direction (Y; Y'), provided for allowing the passage of said head (T) of the user (Ui; U₂);

- a second (3) and a third (4) linear openings, symmetrically disposed with respect to said longitudinal direction (Y; Y') and across a second longitudinal direction (X) substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal direction (Y; Y'), provided for allowing the passage of the arms (Bi, B₂) of the user (Ui; U₂). 3) The cloth (1 ; 10; 100) according to claim 2), characterised in that each of said linear openings (2, 3, 4; 101 ) is substantially provided at the central zone (1a) of said cloth (1 ; 10; 100). 4) The cloth (1 ; 10; 100) according to claim 2), characterised in that each of said linear openings (2, 3, 4; 101 ) has a substantially rectangular profile in its cross section. 5) The cloth (100) according to claim 3), characterised in that it comprises a linear cut (102) which is extended from said first linear opening (101 ) to the external edge (100b) of said cloth (100) across said first longitudinal direction (Y'), in order to facilitate the passage of said user's head. 6) The cloth (100) according to claim 5), characterised in that said linear cut (102) is provided on its lateral edges (102a, 102b) by opening/closing means (103). 7) The cloth (1 ; 10; 100) according to claim 1 ), characterised in that it comprises a couple of opposite flaps (5, 6), each of them respectively applied to one of the lateral surfaces (1c, 1d) of said cloth (1 ; 10; 100), disposed to cover each of said linear openings (2, 3, 4; 101) when said cloth (1; 10; 100) is placed on a bearing surface. 8) The cloth (1 ) according to claim 1 ), characterised in that it has a substantially circular plan shape. 9) The cloth (10) according to claim 1 ), characterised in that it has a polygonal plan shape. 10) The cloth according to claim 9), characterised in that said polygonal shape is a pentagon. 11 ) The cloth (10) according to claim 9), characterised in that said polygonal shape is a hexagon. 12) The cloth according to claim 9), characterised in that said polygonal shape is an octagon. 13) The cloth according to claim 1 ), characterised in that it has a substantially elliptic plan shape. 14) The cloth substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.