Towel with integrally weighted peripheral portions

Abstract

A towel includes a flexible body defining at least one peripheral edge portion. The peripheral edge portion has an end body section and a penultimate body section contiguous to the end body section. The end body section is folded over the penultimate body section to face the penultimate body section. A receptacle is defined between the end body section and the penultimate body section. The receptacle is sequentially segmented at regular spacing intervals to define a series of pockets uninterruptedly throughout the peripheral edge portion. The towel further includes weighted materials. Each weighted material is received into a respective pocket of the series of pockets. The end body section and the penultimate body section are connected to each other to permanently seal away the weighted materials from external access and to impart weight to the towel at the peripheral edge portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A towel, comprising:
 a flexible body defining at least one peripheral edge portion having an end body section and a penultimate body section contiguous to the end body section, the end body section being folded over the penultimate body section to face the penultimate body section, a receptacle defined between the end body section and the penultimate body section and sequentially segmented at regular spacing intervals to define a series of pockets uninterruptedly throughout the at least one peripheral edge portion, and   a plurality of weighted materials, each weighted material of the plurality of weighted materials being received into a respective pocket of the series of pockets,   wherein the end body section and the penultimate body section are connected to each other to permanently seal away the plurality of weighted materials from external access and to impart weight to the towel at the at least one peripheral edge portion.   
     
     
         2 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein each weighted material of the plurality of weighted materials received into a respective pocket of the series of pockets at the at least one peripheral edge portion includes a granular material configured to accommodate flexures in the flexible body. 
     
     
         3 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein
 the flexible body is rectangular shaped defining four peripheral edge portions, and   the at least one peripheral edge portion corresponds to one or more peripheral edge portions of the four peripheral edge portions.   
     
     
         4 . The towel of  claim 3 , wherein
 a width of the flexible body is defined between two opposite edge portions of the four peripheral edge portions and a length of the flexible body is defined between other two opposite edge portions of the four peripheral edge portions.   
     
     
         5 . The towel of  claim 4 , wherein
 the four peripheral edge portions respectively define four end edges of the towel, the towel further including four hems respectively formed at the four end edges, and   first depths defined by two opposite hems of the four hems respectively at the two opposite edge portions is respectively larger than second depths defined by the other two opposite hems of the four hems respectively at the other two opposite edge portions.   
     
     
         6 . The towel of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of waterproof pouches to respectively house the plurality of weighted materials. 
     
     
         7 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the end body section and the penultimate body section are connected to each other by stitching. 
     
     
         8 . The towel of  claim 1 , further comprising a waterproof layer coupled to one or more of the penultimate body section and the end body section to hermetically seal the receptacle from ingress of fluids into the receptacle and to retain the plurality of weighted materials free from moisture when the end body section and the penultimate body section are connected to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein each weighted material of the plurality of weighted materials includes an organic granular material. 
     
     
         10 . The towel of  claim 9 , wherein the organic granular material includes grains. 
     
     
         11 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein each weighted material of the plurality of weighted materials includes an inorganic granular material. 
     
     
         12 . The towel of  claim 11 , wherein the inorganic granular material includes silicone beads. 
     
     
         13 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one peripheral edge portion defines a folded end edge at an interface of the flexible body at which the end body section and the penultimate body section are turned about to face each other,   the towel further including a hem formed at the folded end edge to define a boundary of the towel, and   both the plurality of weighted materials and the hem are defined at the at least one peripheral edge portion.   
     
     
         14 . The towel of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body is made from one or more of cotton, polyester, and/or microfiber. 
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a towel, the method comprising:
 using a flexible body defining at least one peripheral edge portion having an end body section and a penultimate body section contiguous to the end body section,   folding the end body section over the penultimate body section such that the end body section faces the penultimate body section to define a receptacle between the end body section and the penultimate body section;   sequentially segmenting the receptacle at regular spacing intervals to define a series of pockets uninterruptedly throughout the at least one peripheral edge portion;   inserting a plurality of weighted materials into the series of pockets, such that each weighted material of the plurality of weighted materials is received into a respective pocket of the series of pockets; and   connecting the end body section with the penultimate body section to permanently seal away the plurality of weighted materials from external access and to impart weight to the towel at the at least one peripheral edge portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising coupling a waterproof layer to one or more of the penultimate body section and the end body section to hermetically seal the receptacle from ingress of fluids into the receptacle and to retain the plurality of weighted materials free from moisture when the end body section and the penultimate body section are connected to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising using a plurality of waterproof pouches to respectively house the plurality of weighted materials prior to inserting the plurality of weighted materials into the series of pockets, such that each weighted material of the plurality of weighted materials is received into a respective waterproof pouch of the plurality of waterproof pouches. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein folding the end body section over the penultimate body section defines a folded end edge at an interface of the flexible body at which the end body section and the penultimate body section are turned about to face each other, the method further including: forming a hem at the folded end edge to define a boundary of the towel, such that both the plurality of weighted materials and the hem are defined at the at least one peripheral edge portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each weighted material of the plurality of weighted materials received into a respective pocket of the series of pockets at the at least one peripheral edge portion includes granular material configured to accommodate flexures in the flexible body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the granular material includes one or more of an organic granular material or an inorganic granular material.