Device for securing a towel

Abstract

A device for securing a towel includes a pair of opposed clamping members, adjoined at one end, free at the other end and defining an opening with a u- or v-shaped space therebetween. The opening of the space is preferably sufficiently wide to engage at least two layers of a towel. The clamping members are generally rigid but sufficiently flexible so that they may be deflected to increase the space therebetween. The inner surfaces of the clamping members include ribs to enhance gripping friction without snagging or damaging the towel. The face of the device provides space for an aesthetically pleasing design, logo or advertisement.

1 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist, said device including: 
 a first clamping member having a free end, a joining end, a clamping side and a plurality of ribs on the clamping side to frictionally engage a towel;    a second clamping member having a free end, a joining end, a clamping side and a plurality of ribs on the clamping side to frictionally engage a towel;    said second clamping member and said first clamping member being joined at the joining end of the first clamping member and the joining end of the second clamping member;    said clamping side of said second clamping member being opposed and in spaced relation to said clamping side of said first clamping member to define an opening for frictionally engaging a towel between the clamping side of said first clamping member and the clamping side of said second clamping member;    said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member being positioned to interdigitate with said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member;    said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member and said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member being approximately 0.125 inches in height;    said opening between the clamping side of said first clamping member and the clamping side of said second clamping member being approximately at least as wide as the height of said plurality of ribs near the free ends of the first clamping member and the second clamping member.    
   
   
       2 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist-as in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member and said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member are rounded.  
   
   
       3 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member and said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member have a determined width and a length that is approximately eight to ten times the width.  
   
   
       4 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 3 , wherein 
 said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member have ends that gradually decline and terminate at the clamping side, and    said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member have ends that gradually decline and terminate at said clamping side.    
   
   
       5 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 4 , wherein 
 said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member are spaced apart approximately three to five times the determined width; and    said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member are spaced apart approximately the same spacing as the plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member.    
   
   
       6 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the free end of the first clamping member includes a beveled edge; and    the free end of the second clamping member includes a beveled edge.    
   
   
       7 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 6 , wherein 
 said opening between the clamping side of said first clamping member and the clamping side of said second clamping member being narrower near the free ends of the first and second clamping members than at an opposite end of the opening.    
   
   
       8 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 7 , wherein 
 said clamping side of said second clamping member and said clamping side of said first clamping member are textured to enhance traction.    
   
   
       9 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 8 , wherein 
 said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member and said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member are textured to enhance traction.    
   
   
       10 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 9 , wherein 
 said clamping side of said second clamping member and said clamping side of said first clamping member have widths greater than the lengths of said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member and said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member.    
   
   
       11 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 10 , said device further comprising a face for displaying one or more promotional indicia.  
   
   
       12 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist, said device including: 
 a first clamping member having a free end, a joining end, a clamping side and a plurality of ribs on the clamping side to frictionally engage a towel;    a second clamping member having a free end, a joining end, a clamping side and a plurality of ribs on the clamping side to frictionally engage a towel;    said second clamping member and said first clamping member being joined at the joining end of the first clamping member and the joining end of the second clamping member;    said clamping side of said second clamping member being opposed and in spaced relation to said clamping side of said first clamping member to define an opening for frictionally engaging a towel between the clamping side of said first clamping member and the clamping side of said second clamping member;    said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member being positioned to interdigitate with said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member;    said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member having a determined width;    said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member being spaced apart approximately three to five times the determined width; and    said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member being spaced apart approximately the same spacing as the plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member,    said opening between the clamping side of said first clamping member and the clamping side of said second clamping member being approximately at least as wide as the height of said plurality of ribs near the free ends of the first clamping member and the second clamping member.    
   
   
       13 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 12 , wherein 
 the free end of the first clamping member includes a beveled edge; and    the free end of the second clamping member includes a beveled edge.    
   
   
       14 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 13 , wherein 
 said opening between the clamping side of said first clamping member and the clamping side of said second clamping member being narrower near the free ends of the first and second clamping members than at an opposite end of the opening.    
   
   
       15 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 14 , wherein 
 said clamping side of said second clamping member and said clamping side of said first clamping member are textured to enhance traction.    
   
   
       16 . A device for releasably securing a towel around a person's waist as in  claim 14 , wherein 
 said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the first clamping member and said plurality of ribs on the clamping side of the second clamping member are textured to enhance traction.    
   
   
       17 . A method for securing a towel around a person's waist or torso using a device as in  claim 1 , said method comprising steps of wrapping the towel around said person's waist or torso such that the wrapped towel includes a free outer exposed end and one or more underlying wrapped layers of the towel, sliding the device down onto a portion of the towel at or near the free outer exposed end of the towel and a portion of one or more of said one or more underlying towel layers until the portion of the towel at or near the free outer exposed end of the towel and the portion of one or more of said one or more underlying towel layers are interwoven and securely engaged within the opening or space provided between the first and second clamping members.  
   
   
       18 . A method for securing a towel around a person's waist or torso as in  claim 17 , wherein said device includes a face for displaying one or more promotional indicia, and said method further includes a step of orienting the device to display said one or more promotional indicia on said face of the device.