Portable umbrella towell

Abstract

A device has an umbrella and an umbrella towel. The umbrella has a shaft; a hub attached to one end of the shaft; a plurality of braces distributed circumferentially around and pivotally coupled to the hub; a canopy coupled to the plurality of braces; a slider mechanism selectively movable along a longitudinal axis of the shaft; and, a plurality of stays attached to the slider mechanism, wherein the plurality of stays operatively couple the slider mechanism to the braces. The umbrella towel has at least a first anchor strap attached to the umbrella towel; at least a first towel anchor attached to the plurality of braces; a split formed in the umbrella towel; and, a closure mechanism for opening and closing the split. The anchor strap and the towel anchor allow the umbrella towel to be selectively attached to the umbrella.

1 . A device comprising:
 an umbrella comprising:
 a shaft; 
 a hub attached to one end of the shaft; 
 a plurality of braces distributed circumferentially around and pivotally coupled to the hub; 
 a canopy coupled to the plurality of braces; 
 a slider mechanism selectively movable along a longitudinal axis of the shaft; 
 a plurality of stays attached to the slider mechanism, wherein the plurality of stays operatively couple the slider mechanism to the braces; and, 
   an umbrella towel comprising:
 at least a first anchor strap attached to the umbrella towel; 
 at least a first towel anchor attached to the plurality of braces; 
 a split formed in the umbrella towel; 
 a closure mechanism for opening and closing the split, 
   wherein the anchor strap and the towel anchor allow the umbrella towel to be selectively attached to the umbrella.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first anchor strap comprises:
 an elastic band having a ringlet; and,   the at least a first towel anchor comprises an aperture formed in one of the plurality of braces and an s-hook,   wherein the umbrella towel is selectively attached to the umbrella by inserting a first end of the s-hook through the aperture and a second end of the s-hook through the ringlet.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the closing of the closure mechanism while the anchor strap is selectively attached to the towel anchor causes the umbrella towel to be stretched and at least partially assists in allowing the umbrella towel to eliminate any fluid collected in the umbrella towel. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor strap comprises:
 a hook and loop fastener; and,   the towel anchor comprises an extended portion of the hook and loop fastener, wherein the extended portion extends past the edge of the umbrella towel,   wherein the umbrella towel is selectively attached to the umbrella by folding the extended portion around one of the plurality of braces and then fastening the extended portion to either itself or the hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor strap comprises:
 a plurality of loop fasteners; and,   the towel anchor comprises a plurality of hook fasteners suitable for being received and retained by the plurality of loop fasteners, wherein the plurality of hook fasteners are attached to one of the plurality of braces; and,   wherein the umbrella towel is selectively attached to the umbrella by fastening the plurality of loop fasteners to the plurality of hook fasteners.   
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of hook fasteners are selectively positionable along the plurality of braces. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a zipper. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a hook and loop fastener. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a plurality of snaps. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the umbrella towel comprises a substantially rectangular shape having a plurality of anchor straps and a plurality of towel anchors, wherein one of the plurality of anchor straps is attached to each corner of the umbrella towel. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the split allows the umbrella towel to be substantially centered around the shaft. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the split further comprises:
 an edging formed along the edges of the split, wherein at least a portion of the edging acts as a stop for the closure mechanism.   
   
   
       13 . A method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a device comprising:
 an umbrella comprising:
 a shaft; 
 a hub attached to one end of the shaft; 
 a plurality of braces distributed circumferentially around and pivotally coupled to the hub; 
 a canopy coupled to the plurality of braces; 
 a slider mechanism selectively movable along a longitudinal axis of the shaft; 
 a plurality of stays attached to the slider mechanism, wherein the plurality of stays operatively couple the slider mechanism to the braces; and, 
 
 an umbrella towel comprising:
 at least a first anchor strap attached to the umbrella towel; 
 at least a first towel anchor attached to the plurality of braces; 
 a split formed in the umbrella towel; 
 a closure mechanism for opening and closing the split, 
 
 wherein the anchor strap and the towel anchor allow the umbrella towel to be selectively attached to the umbrella; 
   (b) detaching the umbrella towel from the umbrella;   (c) wiping off the canopy with the umbrella towel;   (d) attaching the umbrella towel to the umbrella.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein step (b) further comprises the step of:
 opening the closure mechanism; and,   detaching the anchor strap from the towel anchor.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein step (d) further comprises the step of:
 attaching the anchor strap to the towel anchor; and,   closing the closure mechanism.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein step (d) further comprises the step of:
 stretching the umbrella towel.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of, stretching the umbrella towel, further comprises the step of:
 closing the closure mechanism.   
   
   
       18 . A device comprising:
 an umbrella comprising:
 a shaft; 
 a hub attached to one end of the shaft; 
 a plurality of braces distributed circumferentially around and pivotally coupled to the hub; 
 a canopy coupled to the plurality of braces; 
 a slider mechanism selectively movable along a longitudinal axis of the shaft; 
 a plurality of stays attached to the slider mechanism, wherein the plurality of stays operatively couple the slider mechanism to the braces; and, 
   an umbrella towel having a substantially rectangular shape comprising:
 a first, a second, a third, and a fourth anchor strap wherein the first anchor strap is attached to a first corner of the umbrella towel, the second anchor strap is attached to a second corner of the umbrella towel, the third anchor strap is attached to a third corner of the umbrella towel, and, the fourth anchor strap is attached to a fourth corner of the umbrella towel; 
 a first, a second, a third, and a fourth towel anchor attached to the plurality of braces; 
 a split formed in the umbrella towel; 
 a closure mechanism for opening and closing the split, 
   wherein the first, the second, the third, and the fourth anchor straps and the first, the second, the third, and the fourth towel anchors allow the umbrella towel to be selectively attached to the umbrella.   
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first, a second, a third, and a fourth ringlet positioned within the first, the second, the third, and the fourth anchor straps respectively; and,   a first, a second, a third, and a fourth s-shaped hook, wherein a first end of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth s-shaped hooks are inserted through one of the apertures formed in one of the plurality of braces and a second end of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth s-shaped hooks are inserted through the first, the second, the third, and the fourth ringlets respectively, thereby attaching the umbrella towel to the umbrella.   
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first, the second, the third, and the fourth anchor straps comprise a plurality of loop fasteners and the first, the second, the third, and the fourth towel anchors comprise a plurality of hook fasteners suitable to be received and retained by the plurality of loop fasteners.