ENGAGED THERETO

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application serial no. 08/251,049, filed May 31, 1994 in the names of the present inventors for an invention entitled "ROLL-UP BEACH TOWEL KIT", incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to beach accessories.

BACKGROUND

Preparing for and spending a day at a beach, park or other outdoor location can become a cumbersome ordeal due to the number of items that an individual may require in order to be comfortable during the outing. For example, an outing at the beach typically involves toting a towel or blanket, an insulated cooler for cold drinks and snacks, suntan lotion or sunscreen, and equipment for various sports activities. If the individual must park at some distance away from the beach, it is often problematic to carry all of his or her equipment during an extended walk to the beach, requiring multiple trips or resulting in frustration when the individual keeps dropping items.

Roll-up beach kits have been developed for facilitating the transportation of both a towel and an insulated cooler. Such kits typically comprise a tube made of an insulating foamed plastic material that can be rolled up in a towel. One end of the towel is attached to the tube. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,081,727, issued to Ippolito, one of the co- inventors of the present invention, discloses a towel having a loop in one end. The towel is attached to the tube by slipping the tube into the sleeve-like loop. Two hinged endcaps retain articles such as beverage cans in the tube. When the towel is rolled up around the tube, a user can carry the kit with the tube in a horizontal orientation by gripping two handles on the towel. Hook-and-loop or VELCRO ^® -type fasteners on the towel secure it in the rolled-up position. When the towel is unrolled on the ground, a user may lie on the

towel, using the soft tube as a pillow.

The above-described beach kit has a few disadvantages in that it may be inconvenient to carry due to the limited flexibility of the handles. Further, the above- described beach kit is not economical to manufacture. The loop in the towel is formed by folding an edge of the towel back onto the body of the towel and securing it with stitching. An elastic band is sewn into the seam between the edge of the towel and the body to enhance retention of the towel on the tube. Although these features allow the towel to be securely connected to the tube, they require multiple manufacturing steps, increasing the ultimate cost to the consumer. Also, the hook-and-loop fasteners tend to foul with prolonged exposure to sand.

The above problems and deficiencies are clearly felt in the art and are solved by the present invention in the manner described below. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tubular beach cooler with towel which is easy to use and cost- effective to manufacture. Another object of the present invention is to provide a tubular beach cooler with towel which establishes a reliable connection between the towel and cooler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a roll-up outing kit that is economical to manufacture and that can easily be carried.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention comprises a hollow, insulating tube, a towel attached along one edge to said tube, an endcap at each end of the tube, and a strap connecting the endcaps. The tube may be made of any suitable, soft insulating material such as foamed plastic. The bore in the tube should be sufficiently large to accommodate typical beverage cans. The towel is attached to the tube in an economical manner by inserting one edge into a slit along the length of the tube. With that edge secured to the tube, the towel may then be rolled up or wound around the tube.

In the rolled-up position, two or more snaps near the free end of the towel may be used to secure the towel around the circumference of the tube. A user may then place

beverage cans or other articles in the tube and secure the endcaps over the ends. The user may transport the present invention by slinging the strap over his shoulder with the tube in a non-horizontal orientation. The articles in the tube settle at the lower end of the tube and do not shift while the invention is transported. A suitable swivel, such as a rivet or swivel- eye connector, between each endcap and an end of the strap prevents the strap from twisting.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, an outing apparatus includes a thermally insulative tube which defines a chamber for holding a plurality of beverage containers. The tube is formed with at least a first open end for receiving the containers therethrough. Also, the tube has a second preferably open end opposed to the first end. A first cap is removably engaged with the first end of the tube, and the first cap includes a first snap element. Moreover, a second cap is removably engaged with the second end of the tube, and the second cap includes a second snap element. A towel which has an engagement end and an opposed free end is provided, with third and fourth snap elements being affixed near the first end of the towel for respectively engaging the first and second snap elements on the caps. Thereby, the first end of the towel is releasably held on the caps, and the towel can be rolled around the tube.

In the presently preferred embodiment, the distance between the third and fourth snap elements is substantially equal to the distance between the first and second snap elements. Consequently, when the first and second snap elements are engaged with the third and fourth snap elements, the caps are secured over the respective ends of the tube.

The apparatus also preferably includes fifth and sixth snap elements that are affixed to the towel, and seventh and eighth snap elements that are affixed to the first and second caps, respectively. The seventh and eighth snap elements respectively engage the fifth and sixth snap elements, and the seventh and eighth snap elements are positioned on the respective caps approximately opposite the first and second snap elements. A strap can be provided that has first and second ends releasably attached to the first and second caps, respectively.

In another aspect of the alternate embodiment, a device for holding a towel including a plurality of first snap elements affixed thereto includes a thermally insulative

tube. A plurality of second snap elements are associated with the tube, with each second snap element being configured for releasably engaging a respective first snap element.

In still another aspect of the present invention, an outing kit includes an insulative tube, a towel rollably engageable with the tube, and a plurality of snap members releasably interconnecting the towel and tube.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

BRffiF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in an unrolled position with an endcap removed;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tube portion of the present invention in a partially unrolled position with the endcaps in place;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the present invention in a rolled-up position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, showing a beach towel in an unrolled configuration snappingly engaged to an insulative tube;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5 from another angle, with the strap omitted for clarity; and

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view as seen along the line 7-7 in Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRD7TION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As illustrated in Figure 1-3, a hollow, elongated cylindrical tube 10 made of foamed plastic is attached to a towel 12. Two generally disc-shaped endcaps 14 and 16 can be placed o er the ends of tube 10. Endcaps 14 and 16 fit snugly to minimize the possibility of their inadvertent removal from the ends of tube 10. For example, releasable but secure attachment of the endcaps may be provided by including pins for insertion through bores in the endcaps and into corresponding bores in the tube, or by providing bayonet-type locks comprising locking pins 13 and corresponding channels 15 as shown in Figure 1. These fasteners, as well as other types of appropriate fastening means, are known in the art.

Towel 12 has a width approximately equal to or slightly narrower than the distance between endcaps 14 and 16 to prevent it from interfering with removal and attachment of endcaps 14 and 16. Towel 12 may be made of any suitable material of which beach towels are commonly made, such as terry cloth.

Each end of a strap 18 is connected to one of endcaps 14 and 16 using rivets 20 and 22, respectively. Rivets 20 and 22 allow strap 18 to swivel, thereby reducing twisting of strap 18. Strap 18 preferably comprises a length of flat webbing 24, typically made of nylon or similar material, a slide 26 for adjusting the length of strap 18, and two removable hooks 28 and 30 at the ends of strap 18. Additional separate loops or fasteners may be provided on the strap for releasably fastening other items, such as car keys or a small portable radio, tape player or the like, for carrying.

Towel 12 is attached to tube 10 in a manner that maximizes economy of manufacture, as well as allowing the user to easily remove the towel for drying off after swimming or for laundering the towel. Tube 10 has a longitudinal slit 32 on its outer surface into which one end 34 of towel 12 is inserted. The slit 32 should be of sufficient depth to retain the towel, but not so deep as to compromise the integrity of the tube. It may be desirable to cut the slit at a shallow angle through a greater thickness of the tube wall rather than directly radially from the tube's center. End 34 of towel 12 is thus frictionally and resiliently retained in slit 32. The absence of fasteners or modifications to end 34 of towel 12 reduces manufacturing complexity.

To use the outing kit of the present invention, a user may roll or wind towel 12 around tube 10. Two snap fasteners, comprising male snap halves 36 and 38 and female snap halves 40 and 42, are attached to towel 12 near the end most distant from end 34. Each snap fastener has its respective male and female halves spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the circumference of the present invention in its rolled-up position. Therefore, when towel 12 is in the rolled-up position the user may engage male snap half 36 in female snap half 40 and engage male snap half 38 in female snap half 42, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The user may place articles, such as cold beverage cans 44, small snacks, bottles of suntan lotion or sunscreen, and other personal effects, inside tube 10. The user may then cover the ends of tube 10 with endcaps 14 and 16. The insulating properties of tube 10 keep cans 44 and other food items cold. To transport the present invention, the user may sling strap 18 over his shoulder with tube 10 in a non-horizontal orientation. In this orientation, cans 44 remain at one end of tube 10 and do not shift as the user walks. Unlike prior art devices with handles, the present invention is not cumbersome to carry because it need not be balanced in a horizontal orientation. Also, the ability to sling the outing kit over his or her shoulder frees the user's hands for carrying sports equipment or other items.

When the user reaches the destination, he or she may remove endcap 14 or 16 to retrieve a can 44 or other item that was placed therein. The user may unsnap the fasteners and unroll towel 12. While lying on the unrolled towel 12, the user may rest his or her head on tube 10.

Now referring to Figures 5-7, an alternate embodiment of the device of the present invention is shown, generally designated 100. As shown, the device 100 includes a hollow, elongated, cylindrical tube 102 which defines first and second open ends, generally designated 104, 106, and a chamber 108 (Figure 7) therebetween. The tube 102 shown in Figures 5-7 is substantially identical to the tube 10 shown in Figure 1, with the exception that the tube 102 shown in Figures 5-7 has no slit formed therein. Thus, the tube 102 is a continuous cylinder made of thermally insulative, somewhat resilient material. A plurality of beverage containers (not shown) can accordingly be held in the chamber 108, which is configured for closely receiving each container therein, and the containers are insulated from the environment.

A first cap 110 is releasably engaged with the first end 104 of the tube 102. Likewise, a second cap 112 is releasably engaged with the second end 106 of the tube 102. It is to be understood that the caps 110, 112 are substantially identical to the endcap 14 shown in Figure 1. Thus, the caps 110, 112 include respective annular flanges 110a, 112a that fit snugly over the respective ends 104, 106 of the tube 102.

Figure 5 best shows that like the device shown in Figures 1-4, the device 100 shown in Figures 5-7 includes a strap 114 which is substantially identical to the strap 18 shown in Figures 1-4. As shown in Figure 5, the strap 114 includes first and second ends 116, 118, each of which is attached to a hook (only hook 120 shown in Figure 5). In turn, the hook 120 is releasably engageably with a bracket-and-ring connector 122, and the connector 122 is rotatably connected to the cap 110 by a rivet or pin 124.

Thus, each end 116, 118 of the strap 114 can swivel relative to the associated cap 110, 112 when the strap 114 is engaged with the caps 110, 112, to thereby facilitate carrying the device 100 by the strap 114. It is to be understood that in the presently preferred embodiment, the length of the strap 114 is established such that when the strap 114 is engaged with the caps 110, 112, the strap 114 is sufficiently taut to somewhat help hold the caps 110, 112 onto the tube 102, while permitting a person to comfortably position an arm or shoulder between the strap 114 and tube 102 to carry the device 100.

In cross-reference to Figures 5-7, a towel 126 has an engagement end 126a that is releasably engaged with the tube 102 via the caps 110, 112 and an opposed free end 126b. More particularly, a plurality of, preferably first through fourth, female snap elements 128a- d are affixed to the towel 126 near the engagement end 126a, and the female snap elements 128a-d snappingly engage respective first through fourth male snap elements 130a-d (shown in phantom in Figure 5) which are affixed to the caps 110, 112 and which are configured complementarily to the first snap elements 128a-d.

In accordance with the present invention, each female snap element 128 is affixed to the towel 126 and each male snap element 130 is affixed to one of the caps 110, 112 by means well-known in the art. Preferably, each snap element 128, 130 includes two sub- elements that are press fit together by means well-known in the art through either the towel

126 or one of the caps 110, 112 to thereby establish a snap element 128, 130 that is affixed to the towel 126 or caps 110, 112.

Thus, the snap elements 128a-d may be any suitable female and male snap elements known in the art. Moreover, the snap elements 128a-d may alternatively be male snap elements and the snap elements 130a-d female snap elements. As intended by the present invention, a female snap element 128 and its associated male snap element 130 establishes a snap member.

It can be appreciated in reference to Figure 5 that the distance between the first and second female snap elements 128a, b is substantially equal to the distance between the first and second male snap elements 130a, b. Likewise, in reference to Figure 6 the distance between the third and fourth female snap elements 128c, d is substantially equal to the distance between the third and fourth male snap elements 130c, d.

As intended by the present invention, a secured area 132 of the towel 126 is defined by the female snap elements 128a-d. The skilled artisan will appreciate that when the female snap elements 128a-d are engaged with the male snap elements 130a-d, the secured area 132 of the towel 126 is relatively taut, thereby further securing the caps 110, 112 over the respective ends 104, 106 of the tube 102.

Furthermore, Figure 7 best shows that the first and fourth male snap elements 130a, 130d are positioned on the first cap 110 approximately opposite each other. It is to be understood that the second and third male snap elements 130a, 130d likewise are positioned on the second cap 112 approximately opposite each other.

It is to be further understood that the first and fourth female snap elements 128a, d are spaced from each other a distance which is approximately equal to the length of the circumferential arc between the first and fourth male snap elements 130a, 130d. Moreover, the second and third female snap elements 128b, c are spaced from each other a distance which is approximately equal to the length of the circumferential arc between the second and third male snap elements 130b, 130c. Consequently, the secured area 132 of the towel 126 is held flat against the caps 110, 112 when the female snap elements 128a-d are engaged with the male snap elements 130a-d.

Referring back to Figure 5, snap fasteners 134, 136 which are substantially identical to the snap fasteners 36-42 shown in Figure 1 are provided.

In the operation of the device 100, an unrolled, engaged configuration of the device 100 can be established by fitting the caps 110, 112 over the ends 104, 106 of the tube 102 and then snappingly engaging the female snap elements 128 with the male snap elements 130. Figures 5 and 6 show the device 100 in the unrolled, engaged configuration. Then, a rolled, engaged configuration of the device 100 (analogous to the configuration shown in Figure 4) can be established by rolling the towel 126 around the tube 102 and engaging the snap fasteners 134, 136, for easy transport of the device 100.

Next, an unrolled, disengaged configuration of the device 100 can be established by disengaging the snap fasteners 134, 136, unrolling the towel 126, and disengaging the female snap elements 128 from the male snap elements 130. Then, the caps 110, 112 may be removed from the tube 102 to establish access to beverage containers within the chamber 108 of the tube 102.

While the particular TUBULAR BEACH COOLER WITH ROLL-UP TOWEL SNAPPINGLY ENGAGED THERETO as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims.