US20170020208A1

US20170020208A1 - Apron with attachable towels

Info

Publication number: US20170020208A1
Application number: US15/165,605
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard Velie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-07-20
Filing date: 2016-05-26
Publication date: 2017-01-26

Abstract

An apron is provided. The apron includes body formed of a sheet of material having an upper edge, a lower edge opposite the upper edge, a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge. A first waist strap extends from the first side edge and a second waist strap extends from the second side edge. A first towel connector is attached to the body. The present invention further includes a first towel. A second towel connector is attached to the first towel. The first towel connector is releasably attachable to the second towel connector. Therefore, the first towel releasably attaches to the body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/194,517, filed Jul. 20, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apron and, more particularly, to an apron with attachable towels.
Chefs in professional kitchens use aprons and side towels congruently and have a need for them both at many times during the work day. Currently, an apron and towel are separate and towels get lost and become hard to find in the hectic environment of the kitchen.
As can be seen, there is a need for a chef's apron with attachable towels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an apron comprises: a body comprising a sheet of material having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; a first waist strap extending from the first side edge and a second waist strap extending from the second side edge; a first towel connector attached to the body; a first towel; and a second towel connector attached to the first towel, wherein the first towel connector is releasably attachable to the second towel connector.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention in use; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded front elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The present invention includes a professional chef's apron with magnets attached to the apron and to side towels for greater ease of use, kitchen speed and safety. Chefs handle hot items all the time and the present invention helps address quick and expeditious handling while keeping the side towels close at hand attached to the body of the apron. The embedding of magnets within the fabric of the apron and the towels ties the two important tools together and thus increases efficiency, speed and safety.
The side towels and apron are meant to protect the chef from heat and spills. The present invention holds the two together to facilitate the quick and easy use of both together. By having magnets attached at different points in the apron and towel, the chef can cook without having to look for, find and use the towels as needed. The chef may then return them to where they were found and since they are on the apron they are always with the chef while he or she moves about a busy kitchen
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention includes an apron 10. The apron 10 includes body 12 formed of a sheet of material having an upper edge, a lower edge opposite the upper edge, a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge. The body 12 further includes an inner surface facing the user and an outer surface facing away from the user. A first waist strap 16 extends from the first side edge and a second waist strap 16 extends from the second side edge. A first towel connector 20 is attached to the body 12. The present invention further includes a first towel 18. A second towel connector 20 is attached to the first towel 18. The first towel connector 20 is releasably attachable to the second towel connector 20. Therefore, the first towel 18 releasably attaches to the body 12.
The present invention may be used with different types of aprons 10, 26. For example, in FIGS. 1 through 4, the apron 10 may include a looped shoulder strap extending from the upper edge. The looped shoulder strap may fit over a user's head and rest on the user's shoulders. The looped shoulder strap is for aprons 10 that cover an upper portion of the user's body. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the apron 26 may not include the looped shoulder strap. In such embodiments, the apron 26 may be used to cover only the lower portion of the user's body.
In certain embodiments, the waist straps 16 of the present invention may be tied together behind the user's back. In certain embodiments, a first strap connector 20 is attached to the first waist strap 16 and a second strap connector 20 attached to the second waist strap 16. The first strap connector 20 is releasably attachable to the second strap connector 20. Therefore, the user may attach the waist straps together without having to tie them together.
The present invention may further include a second towel 18. In such embodiments, a third towel connector 20 is attached to the body 12. A fourth towel connector 20 is attached to the second towel 18. The third towel connector 20 is releasably attachable to the fourth towel connector 20. Therefore, the second towel 18 releasably attaches to the body 12. In certain embodiments, the first towel connecter 20 is attached to the body near the first side edge and the third towel connector 20 is attached to the body near the second side edge. Further, the first towel connecter 20 may be attached to the body 12 near the first waist strap 16 and the third towel connector 20 may be attached to the body 12 near the second waist strap 16. This allows for each of the user's right and left hand to have quick and easy access to each of the towels 18.
In certain embodiments, the connectors 20 mentioned above may be magnetic material, hook and loop fasteners, clips, snap buttons and the like. For example, each of the magnetic material may include magnets, ferromagnetic material and the like. The magnetic material is attracted to each other, and therefore releasably attaches together.
The present invention may further include a pocket 14. The pocket 14 may be disposed or stitched to the outer surface of the body 12. The pocket 14 may be positioned near the top edge of the body 12. The pocket 14 includes an entrance so that a user may place a mobile device 24, wallet, keys, pens and the like within. The pocket 14 may include a pocket connector 22 to releasably open and close the entrance. The pocket connector 22 may include a hook fastener 22 a and a loop fastener 22 b, magnetic material and the like.
A method of making the present invention may include the following. Magnets may be attached to an apron and side towels at specific locations on the aprons and towels. The present invention invention would alleviate the need to fold and stuff towels into the apron using two hands and allow for one handed operation of the important function of handling hot items in a fast paced professional kitchen environment.
A method of using the present invention may include the following. The present invention allows for increased speed and efficiency and a safer operational style within a professional kitchen. Having the towels magnetically held in place on the outside of the apron always at the ready and then placed back in the same spot makes for better work flow and a safer work environment.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apron comprising:

a body comprising a sheet of material haying an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;

a first waist strap extending from the first side edge and a second waist strap extending from the second side edge;

a first towel connector attached to the body;

a first towel; and

a second towel connector attached to the first towel, wherein the first towel connector is releasably attachable to the second towel connector.

2. The apron of claim 1, further comprising a looped shoulder strap extending from the upper edge.

3. The apron of claim 1, wherein the first towel connector is a magnetic material and the second towel connector is a magnetic material.

4. The apron of claim 1, further comprising a first strap connector attached to the first waist strap and a second strap connector attached to the second waist strap, wherein the first strap connector is releasably attachable to the second strap connector.

5. The apron of claim 4, wherein the first strap connector is a magnetic material and the second strap connector is a magnetic material.

6. The apron of claim 1, further comprising a pocket disposed on an outer surface of the body.

7. The apron of claim 4, further comprising a pocket connector operable to open and close an entrance to the pocket.

8. The apron of claim 7, wherein the pocket connector is a hook and loop fastener.

9. The apron of claim 1 further comprising:

a third towel connector attached to the body;

a second towel; and

a fourth towel connector attached to the second towel, wherein the third towel connector is releasably attachable to the fourth towel connector.

10. The apron of claim 9, wherein the first towel connecter is attached to the body near the first side edge and the third towel connector is attached to the body near the second side edge.