Windproof beach blankets and towels

Abstract

A windproof beach blanket provides built-in weights at the corners and in the centers of the long edge seams. The weights are secured in pockets in the edges and corners of the blanket 10 using hook-and-loop fastener strips 13, so that they may be removed when the blanket 10 is laundered. The invention may be applied to blankets, beach towels, or any other fabric item which must lay flat and be secured against the wind.

1 . A weighted fabric item comprising a fabric sheet; said fabric sheet having disposed about its perimeter a plurality of corner pockets and a plurality of side pockets; each of said plurality of corner pockets being contoured to complementarily accept one of a plurality of corner weights; each of said corner weights being of a solid nongranular material; each of said plurality of side pockets being contoured to complementarily accept one of a plurality of side weights; each of said plurality of corner pockets and each of said plurality of side pockets having a contoured closure affixed about its outer edge relative to said fabric sheet. 
     
     
         2 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 1  wherein said fabric sheet is rectangular in footprint; wherein said plurality of corner pockets is four in number; and wherein each of said plurality of corner pockets and each of said plurality of corner weights is configured in a ninety degree v-shape. 
     
     
         3 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 2  wherein each of said plurality of corner weights and each of said plurality of corner pockets is bar shaped, one half inch in diameter, and six inches in length in both axial dimensions. 
     
     
         4 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 2  wherein each of said plurality of side weights and each of said plurality of side pockets is bar shaped, one half inch in diameter, and six inches in length. 
     
     
         5 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 3  wherein each of said plurality of side weights and each of said plurality of side pockets is bar shaped, one half inch in diameter, and six inches in length. 
     
     
         6 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 1  wherein said closure is a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         7 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 2  wherein said closure is a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 3  wherein said closure is a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 4  wherein said closure is a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 5  wherein said closure is a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 1  wherein said fabric sheet is made of an absorbent material. 
     
     
         12 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 1  wherein said fabric sheet is made of a non-absorbent material. 
     
     
         13 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 1  wherein said fabric sheet is made of an impervious material. 
     
     
         14 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 1  wherein said fabric item is selected from the group of blankets and beach towels. 
     
     
         15 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 5  wherein said fabric sheet is made of an absorbent material. 
     
     
         16 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 5  wherein said fabric sheet is made of a non-absorbent material. 
     
     
         17 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 5  wherein said fabric sheet is made of an impervious material. 
     
     
         18 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 5  wherein said fabric item is selected from the group of blankets and beach towels. 
     
     
         19 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 17  wherein said closure is a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         20 . The weighted fabric item of  claim 18  wherein said closure is a hook and loop fastener.