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The invention relates to a beach towel, which converts to a compact tote bag incorporating externally accessible pockets for carrying various accessories. The beach towel is formed from a large rectangular section of flexible, absorbent fabric and a second smaller, multi-paneled rectangular towel co

The invention relates to a beach towel, which converts to a compact tote bag incorporating externally accessible pockets for carrying various accessories. The beach towel is formed from a large rectangular section of flexible, absorbent fabric and a second smaller, multi-paneled rectangular towel consisting mostly of the same or similar fabric as the large towel. The small towel overlies the upper one-quarter section of the large towel and the two are stitched together along the center and periphery of the small towel. Pockets with zippered closures are provided on the outside face of the small towel, and its center section is made from a flexible perforated screen or mesh fabric to facilitates escape of dirt and sand particles entrapped within the pockets. The towel converts to the tote bag configuration by folding it twice along the transverse axis and once along the longitudinal axis. Securing snaps are provided to hold the towel in the tote bag configuration, and two strap loops form handles for carrying in any desired manner, including on one shoulder, or as a backpack. The partially unfolded towel is also convertible to a shoulder and back cover to protect the wearer from adverse weather conditions.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A beach towel and integral tote bag with externally accessible storage pockets, the combination comprising:a) a large rectangular towel of flexible, absorbent, fabric approximately twice as long as it is wide and having longitudinal side edges, transverse side edges, an

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A beach towel and integral tote bag with externally accessible storage pockets, the combination comprising:a) a large rectangular towel of flexible, absorbent, fabric approximately twice as long as it is wide and having longitudinal side edges, transverse side edges, and a front and a back surface;b) two loop tabs, comprised of flexible webbing straps sewn at substantially right angles to and extending out from each of the large towel's longitudinal side edges at the longitudinal centerline, each said loop tab having half of a first cooperating snap facing the back surface;c) a small rectangular towel of flexible, absorbent, fabric having a length approximately equal to the width of the large towel and a width approximately equal to one fourth the length of the large towel and having two long side edges, two short side edges, and a front and a back surface;d) a first and a second small towel panel formed by cutting the small towel fabric in half substantially along the midpoint of the two long side edges;e) a third small towel panel of flexible perforated mesh fabric or netting, with perforations sized to substantially permit passage of coarse sand particles, said panel being approximately three inches wide and as long as the small towel's width, and stitched to the front surface of the first and second small towel panels along the third panel's two long side edges and the previously cut first and second panel side edges;f) a fourth and a fifth small towel panel formed by cutting the small towel fabric across its entire width approximately four inches from the short side edge opposite the short side edges securing the third small towel panel;g) a pair of zippers closures extending the full width of the small towel stitched to and thereby reattaching the fourth and fifth small towel panels to the remainder of the small towel in substantially the same orientation occupied prior to cutting the small towel fabric to form the fourth and fifth panels;h) said front surface of the small towel, comprised of a plurality of panels, being placed substantially flat over the front surface of the large towel, zippers facing out, and two transverse comers of the large towel substantially matching and overlaying two corresponding small towel long side edge corners;i) said front surface of the small towel, being stitched along its perimeter and along the longitudinal centerline of the third panel, to the front surface of one quarter section of the large towel bordering the transverse edge, incorporating pleats at the longitudinal extremities of the mesh fabric panels, thus forming two storage pockets between the large towel and the small towel, each pocket being openable and closable by means of zippers, and each pocket having a perforated mesh fabric or netting panel along the centerline of the large towel to facilitate escape of sand or dirt particles accumulated within the pockets;j) a continuous strap having a first portion stitched flat over the combined towels along the small towel's first long side edge and extending past the large towel's longitudinal side edge forming a first closed loop having a diameter substantially equal to the width of the small towel and having a second portion stitched flat over the combined towels along the small towel's second long side edge and extending past the large towel's second longitudinal side edge forming a second closed loop having a diameter substantially equal to the first closed loop;k) two second cooperating snaps, one each secured to each of the strap loops facing the back surface, located beyond the corners of the large towel's longitudinal and transverse side edges; reby when said large towel is first folded at the transverse centerline to half its length on its back surface, secondly folded to one quarter of its length on its back surface, and thirdly folded to one half its width at the longitudinal centerline, such that the cooperating snaps on the opposing loop tabs and strap loops will engage securing the large towel in the folded mode, forming a tote bag, pockets facing out to enable release of unwanted dirt and sand particles through the perforated mesh fabric panels, and is carried by placing the handles formed by the strap loops on one shoulder.