Beach towel and garment

May 13, 1947.

2,420,344

Sheets-Sheet 1

V. C. ALEXANDER

BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT

Filed July 22, 1946

<img file="US2420344A_D0001.tif" />

2,420,344

May 13, 1947,

V. C. ALEXANDER . BEACH TOWEL· AND GARMENT

Filed July 22, 1946

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2420344A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US2420344A_D0003.tif" />

•Hripeniori

HevA Cook Alexauocr.

<img file="US2420344A_D0004.tif" />

Qttorney

May 13, 1947.

V. C. ALEXANDER

BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT

Filed July 22, 1946

2,420,344

Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US2420344A_D0005.tif" />

May 13, 1947.

V. C. ALEXANDER

BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT

Filed July 22, 1946

2,420,344

Sheets-Sheet 4 >

<img file="US2420344A_D0006.tif" />

,z*'

Gticmcy

ZThtentev.

Vetstm Coon Alexander.

May 13, 1947. v. c. Alexander 2,420,344

BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT

Filed July 22, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 5

<img file="US2420344A_D0007.tif" />

Qtterneij

2,420,344

May 13, 1947. v. c. Alexander

BEACH TOWEL·'AND GARMENT

Filed July 22, 1946

Sheets-Sheet 6

<img file="US2420344A_D0008.tif" />

<img file="US2420344A_D0009.tif" />

2,420,344

May 13, 1947.

V. C. ALEXANDER

BEACH TOWEL· AND GARMENT

Filed July 22, 1946

Sheets-Sheet 7

<img file="US2420344A_D0010.tif" />

Verna Cook Ai-ex/woee attornetj,

Patented May 13, 1947

2,420,344

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,420,344

BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT

Verna Cook Alexander, Spartanburg, S. C.

Application July 22, 1946, Serial No. 685,463

Claims.

This invention relates to a beach towel, which can be used for a variety of purposes, either as a lounging towel, or as a cape or wrap for beach wear, or as a wrap in a Turkish bath and the like, and which can be rolled up and tied into the form of a handbag, and employed as a handbag when in rolled up position. By a slight modification of the same, it can also be used as a hospital garment, or examination garment for doctor’s offices and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a combination beach towel, garment, handbag, which by forming into different shapes and draping around the body in different manners can be employed for a variety of purposes.

It is another object of this invention to provide a beach towel, wrap and the like having a pillow associated therewith and attached thereto, and having certain pockets associated therewith for the keeping of personal effects so that whether the article is used as a lounging towel on a beach, or as a beach covering for the shoulders and the waist portion of the body, or as a garment, it can still have means associated therewith for the retention of personal effects regardless of the manner in which it is used.

This' application is a continuation in part of my co-pending patent application for a Beach blanket towel, Serial No. 625,210, filed October 29, 1945.

Some cf the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken In connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the article and showing it lying flat;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the article turned back side up and showing it constricted at the top portions and ready to be rolled up;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the upper portion thereof doubled one time upon itself;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the article further rolled up, that is, lapped upon itself three times;

Figure 5 shows the last folding operation so that the article can be tied into the form of a handbag;

Figure 6 is a view of the article after the draw strings have been tied together to cause the article to have the appearance of and to serve as a handbag;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7—7 in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a view of the article being worn as a (Cl. 2—69) beach garment with one end tied around the neck and the other tied around the waistline;

Figure 9 is a view of the article wrapped around a model showing the use of the article as a bath garment, such as in emerging from a Turkish bath;

Figure 10 is a reverse view of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a modified form of the article showing slits therein to enable it to be used as a hospital garment;

Figure 12 is a view showing how the article shown in Figure 11 can be worn as a hospital examination garment;

Figure 13 is an isometric view in section taken along the line 13—13 in Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a view of the article in a modified', form omitting the bottom draw string and substituting tassels on the lower end of the article;:

Figure 15 is a view showing how the article· would be worn on a model, as a beach covering;.

Figure IS is an isometric view of a modified: form of the article, omitting the bottom draw string:

Figure 17 is a view showing the article as itappears in Figure lo doubled upon itself several, times in the process of being folded for carrying: purposes;

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17, but showing the article completely folded;

Figure 19 is a reverse view of Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a view showing how the articleshown in Figures 14 to 19 would appear when the draw string is tied to convert it into a type of handbag.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral (8 indicates the sheet of material, such as terry cloth, which has loose hems 11 and 12 at its ends in which draw strings 13 and 14 are slidably mounted.· Near the top of the sheet of material 1S, which is preferably of terry cloth, there is secured by a line of stitches 15 a bag or pillow slip 16 open at one end and provided with closure means, such as a hookless fastener 17, and in which bag a pillow 18 is adapted to be inserted.

At each of the lower corners of the sheet of material IB, there are sewn thereto two rectangular pockets 20 and 21, which are open at their proximate ends, and are closed by suitable hookless fasteners 22 and 23.

This item can be spread on the beach and used as a lounging mat, or can be worn as a beach garment, such as shown in Figures 8 to 10 inclusive. When worn as a beach garment, it can have the upper end thereof passed around the

2,420,344 neck of the wearer and the cord i4 formed into a bow knot and the lower end of the sheet 10 can be passed around the waist of the wearer and the cord 13 can be formed into a suitable bow knot so that it will cover the back, shoulders, waist portion, hips, and portions of the legs of the wearer. Or, if desired, when entering or emerging from a Turkish bath or on other occasions, the article can be worn, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, by having the upper cord i4 tied around the neck of the wearer, and the sheet i 0 can be wrapped spirally around the body of the wearer, the first turn going into the armpits and covering the busts, and the second turn ending approximately at the knees of the wearer, so that the wearer can seize the lower cord 13 and pull it until the knot on one end engages the end of the hem portion I i and the knot being larger than the hem portion il will prevent the knot from going into the hem portion and the hand of the operator can seize the cord 13 and hold it so as to hold the lower end of the sheet 10 securely around the knees of the wearer.

When the article is not in use as a beach towel or garment, if it is desired to carry it in the form of a handbag and to stow articles within the folds of the sheet, and yet permit the pockets 20 and 21 to be available for the depositing of articles therein, the member 13 can be turned over from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 and the article can be folded several times upon itself, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and then the cords 13 and 14 can be tied into suitable bow knots to provide a neat looking handbag so that articles of personal effects can be inserted through the substantially circular opening 25 in the bag, and the pockets 20 and 21 will appear on the outer top side of the handbag, and be available for access for the depositing or removal therefrom of personal effects.

In wearing the article as a garment, such as a cape, bathrobe, beach robe, hospital garment and the like, it is, of course, understood that the pillow 16 will be on the outside hanging down onto the back of the person and disposed between the shoulders. It should be added also that in using the article as a beach lounging spread, the pillow case 16 can be thrown upwardly in Figure 1, if desired, so as to provide a pillow either in the position shown in Figure 1 or when thrown upwardly.

In Figures 11 and 12 a slightly modified form of the invention is shown, which is identical to the structure shown in Figure 1 with the exception that if desired, side hems 26 and 27 can be provided having draw strings 28 and 29 with suitable knots on the ends thereof, and in addition the sheet ID is slitted. as at 39 and 31, which slits are faced with overlapping facings or bindings 32 and 33 to cause them to overlap each other to normally close the slits 39 and 3!, when it is desired to use the sheet 10, as a beach towel or a lounging mat, but when desired to use it as a garment such as in hospitals or in a doctor’s office during a physical examination, the legs of the patient can be inserted through the slits 20 and 31 and the upper cord 14 can be tied around the neck of the wearer, while the lower end of the sheet is brought up to cover the abdomen of the patient, and cord 13 is tied around the waist, and if desired, the side cords 34 and 35 can be pulled to shorten the length of the side edges of the sheet to make it more snugly fitting,and they can be tied together in suitable quick detachable knots as desired. The other features shown in Figure 11 have already been described and like reference characters will apply.

In Figures 14 to 20 inclusive, a modified form of the invention is shown, in which the sheet 10 has the upper end thereof of the same structure as previously described and like reference characters will apply, but the lower end, instead of having a hem with a draw string, has a plurality of ornamental tassels 37 disposed therealong and instead of the rectangular pockets 20 and 21, it has triangular pockets 38 and 39 open at one side and closed by suitable hookless fasteners 40 and 41. This type of the invention can be worn over the shoulders as shown in Figure 15, with the pillow at the top thereof disposed inside or outside the garment, as desired, preferably on the outside, with the draw string (4 tied in a bow knot around the neck, and letting the other end swing down behind the legs of the wearer.

In Figure 16, it is shown how this structure can be laid flat and folded and the pillow turned inwardly ready to be folded and partially folded in Figure 17 and completely folded in Figures 18 and 19,. and with the drawstring, drawn up and tied in a suitable knot converting it into a handbag, and having the pockets 38 and 39 disposed on tire outside of the last layer so that it can be used as a handbag by inserting personal effects into the opening left by not fully closing the draw string, and also the pockets 38 and 39 are available for insertion and removal of personal effects.

It is thus seen that I have provided an article of apparel, which can be used .as a lounging mat, beach robe, beach towel, shoulder covering, body covering; medical inspection garment, handbag and the like, and thus having a great variety of uses, presents novel details, which makes it a highly desirable and yet inexpensive article of personal wear.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set’forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.