EP3157365B1

EP3157365B1 - Composite tie

Info

Publication number: EP3157365B1
Application number: EP15751097.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giulio Sbarigia; Niccoló CAPPON; Fabio Cappon
Original assignee: Gekorosso Srl Semplificata
Current assignee: Gekorosso Srl Semplificata
Priority date: 2014-06-19
Filing date: 2015-05-18
Publication date: 2018-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2035-05-18
Also published as: EP3157365A1; WO2015193925A1

Description

This description relates to the technical field of clothing accessories and in particular concerns a composite tie.
The ties of the state of the art are clothing accessories that, in their normal use, are generally wrapped around the neck of a wearer. For example, a tie is generally made in the form of a strip of fabric that, to be worn has to be knotted using various known techniques so that it assumes the general shape of a loop to be moderately tightened around the neck of a wearer, in which there are the two ends of the fabric strip that are left hanging.
A known variant of the traditional tie described above is represented by the bow tie. Even bow ties, at least the traditional ones, are strips of fabric that are knotted around the neck of a wearer. Regarding bow ties, pre-assembled variants are also known that, to be worn, do not require the preparation of a knot, since they are, for example, fixed by means of an elastic ribbon with or without a button coupling system for fixing the bow tie around the neck of a wearer.
Although the ties of the state of the prior art are clothing accessories that have been widely used for a long time and are a traditional symbol of male elegance, they have several drawbacks.
In fact, in some cases, when wearing a tie requires tying a knot, it takes time and manual manipulation that can be laborious for some persons. In other cases, the ties of the prior art can create a sense of oppression around the neck of the wearer, which can give rise to a sensation of discomfort or annoyance and, in some cases, skin irritation, especially during the hottest periods of year. Finally, in other cases, the ties of the prior art have little or no flexibility from the point of view of their reconfigurability and, in fact, they often end up permanently stored in the closet when the wearer's tastes change with respect to when they were purchased.
Document US 2008/120760 A1 describes an apparatus for extending the length of a tie. The above-mentioned tie is a tie traditional that requires tying a knot. For this reason, the tie described in this document is not able to overcome the drawbacks described above with reference to the ties of the prior art. Document CH 684 867 A5 also describes a customizable tie that, like traditional ties, requires tying a knot.
A general purpose of this description is to make available a composite tie that is able to completely solve or at least, partly reduce or minimize the problems described above with reference to the known art.
This and other purposes are achieved through a composite tie as defined in claim 1 in its most general form, and in the dependent claims in several particular embodiments.
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of its embodiments, provided by way of example and therefore in no way limiting, in relation to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side plan view of an embodiment of a composite tie, comprising a first part and a second part which are shown coupled together in Figure 1;
Figure 2 shows a front plan view of the tie of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side plan view of the composite tie of Figure 1, wherein the first and second part are shown uncoupled from each other;
Figure 4 is a three-dimensional view of the first part of the composite tie of Figures 1, wherein the first part is shown in a release configuration;
Figure 5 is a three-dimensional view of the first part of the composite tie of Figure 1, wherein the first part is shown in a clamping configuration;
Figure 6 shows a partial three-dimensional view of the second part of the composite tie of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a three-dimensional view of the first part of the composite tie of Figure 1, wherein the first part is shown in a release configuration and coupled to a button of a shirt, T-shirt, sweater or button-neck shirt;
Figure 8 is a partial three-dimensional view of the composite tie of Figure 1, wherein the first part is shown in a release configuration and coupled to a button of a shirt, T-shirt, sweater or a button-neck shirt;
Figure 9 is a partial three-dimensional view of the composite tie of Figure 1, wherein the first part is shown in a clamping configuration;
Figure 10 is a partial three-dimensional view of a possible variant embodiment of the composite tie of Figure 1, wherein the first part is shown in a release configuration;
Figure 11 is a partial three-dimensional view of the variant embodiment of Figure 10, wherein the first part is shown in a clamping configuration;
Figure 12 is a rear plan view of a first possible variant of the first part of the composite tie of Figures 4 and 5; and
Figure 13 is a rear plan view of a second possible variant of the first part of the composite tie of Figures 4 and 5;
Figure 14 is a partial three-dimensional view of a possible further variant embodiment of the composite tie of Figure 1, wherein the first part is shown in a release configuration;
Figure 15 is a partial three-dimensional view of the variant embodiment of Figure 14, wherein the first part is shown in a clamping configuration.

In the annexed figures, equal or similar elements will be indicated by the same reference numbers.
Figure 1 shows a non-limiting example of an embodiment of a composite tie 1, wherein said tie is shown coupled to a button 3 of a shirt 2. The button 3 may be, instead of a button of a shirt 2, a button of a T-shirt, sweater, button-neck shirt or a similar or equivalent garment. From now on we will refer, without thereby introducing any limitation, to the case wherein the button 3 is the button of a shirt or T-shirt 2. The button 3 is preferably the top button of the shirt or T-shirt 2, i.e., the button placed in correspondence to the collar of the shirt or T-shirt 2.
For the purposes of the present description tie means indifferently either to a cravat, like that shown, for example, in Figures 1-3, 8 and 9, and a bow tie, like that shown, for example, in Figures 10 and 11.
The composite tie 1 comprises a first part 10 comprising a main body comprising two limbs 11,12. The main body is foldable on itself, billfold-style, around a folding axis X-X to assume a release configuration, shown for example in Figure 8, and a clamping configuration, shown for example in Figure 9. In the clamping position, the limbs 11,12 are facing each other so as to define a clamp. To be able to be folded on itself, billfold-style, the main body is obviously flexible. Furthermore, with reference to Figures 1 and 3, in the clamping configuration, between the limbs 11,12 is interposed a portion 18 of the main body that is curved or folded in a C, U or V-shape. In the clamping configuration, the main body has a portion folded proximal to said folding axis; in practice the above mentioned portion 18 is a free end portion of the first part 10 of the composite tie.
The composite tie 1 also comprises a second part 20 made in a distinct piece from the first part 10 and removably couplable to it. To this end, the second part 20 comprises a coupling portion 21 adapted and configured to be interposed and clamped between the limbs 11,12 of the first part 10 when the first part 10 is folded in the clamping configuration.
The composite tie 1 also comprises a magnetic coupling system 13,23 adapted to maintain the first part 10 of the composite tie 1 in the clamping configuration for coupling first 10 and second 20 part to each other.
The main body of the first part 10 may be a body made from a single layer of material. Alternatively, according to an advantageous and non-limiting embodiment, the main body of the first part 10 of the composite tie 1 is a multilayer body, i.e., comprising at least two layers coupled to each other, comprising at least a first layer, relatively flexible, and at least a second layer, relatively rigid with respect to the first relatively flexible layer. The first and the second layer may be coupled only along a peripheral edge of the same (for example by one or more seams) or for the entire area of said layers, for example being welded or glued to each other. For example, according to a non-limiting embodiment, the first layer is a sheet of fabric, leather, imitation leather or foldable metal foil and the second layer is a sheet of plastic material and, in the clamping configuration, the first layer is disposed externally with respect to the second layer. For the purposes of this description, sheet of fabric means a sheet of natural or synthetic fabric, including a sheet of non-woven fabric, also including a sheet of plant tissue such as, for example, cork. In the case in which the first layer is or includes a sheet of foldable metal foil, it is clear that such foil must have the characteristics in terms of thickness and ductility that can ensure the foldability of the foil without structurally damaging the first part 10, in order to ensure that the first part 10 can be brought from the release configuration to that of clamping and vice versa for a high number of times, as large as desired. Preferably and non-limitingly, the above-mentioned sheet of plastic material is a sheet of polymeric material, for example polyurethane or more preferably Kevlar. Alternatively, the above-mentioned sheet of plastic material may be, for example, even made of ABS, EVA or rubber. According to a possible exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, the above-mentioned sheet of plastic material has a thickness comprised between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, inclusive, and for example equal to, or approximately equal to, 1 mm.
According to a possible embodiment, the main body of the first part 10 of the composite tie 1 also comprises a third layer, having for example the features of the first layer and placed on the opposite side with respect to the above-mentioned first layer so that the second layer is interposed between the first and the third layer.
As regards the main body of the second part 20, this may be either in a single layer or multilayer. As regards the materials, they may be, for example, fabric, non-woven fabric or plant tissue (for example, cork). The same considerations on the structure and materials already mentioned for the main body of the first part 10 also apply.
With reference to Figures 4, 7 and 8, the first part 10 comprises a hooking member 14 adapted to fix the first part 10 to a button 3 of a shirt or a T-shirt 2. Preferably, said hooking member 14 has a slotted through-hole defined in the main body of the first part 10 of the composite tie 1. For example, the above-mentioned slotted through-hole is adapted to be crossed by a button so that the first part 10 of the composite tie 1 is suspended astride a coupling wire or rod between the shirt or T-shirt 2 and the button 3. As shown in the example of Figure 4, according to a possible embodiment, the slotted through-hole has a relatively wider first portion 15 and a relatively narrower second portion 16 flanking the first portion 15. Alternatively to the slotted through-hole, it is possible to provide that the above-mentioned hooking member is a hook, for example, made of plastic, metal or wood adapted to be positioned astride the button 3 of the shirt or T-shirt 2 even if this embodiment is currently less preferred.
With reference to Figure 4, according to a preferred embodiment, the main body of the first part 10 of the composite tie 1 it is foldable around a folding axis X-X, and the hooking member 14 is disposed between the folding axis X-X and an end portion 19 of one of said limbs (in figure 4, of the limb 11, that is, in practice, the limb destined in the normal use of the composite tie 1 to be directed toward the collar of the shirt or T-shirt 2). Advantageously, in this way the first part 10 may be removably fixed to the shirt or T-shirt to simulate a knot and the second part 20 may be suspended to the first part 10.
According to a possible embodiment, the magnetic coupling system comprises a first permanent magnet 13 fixed to one of said limbs and a second permanent magnet 13 or a member in a ferromagnetic material, for example iron or an alloy of iron, fixed to the other of said limbs. For example, said permanent magnets 13 are plate-shaped magnets (for example, in the shape of a ring, disc or cylinder or oval elliptical shape or a quadrangular plate).
In the case where, as shown in Figure 4, there are two permanent magnets 13, respectively fixed to the first limb 11 and the second limb 12, it is preferable that in the clamping configuration said permanent magnets 13 have opposite poles that are facing each other when the main body of the first part 10 is folded back on itself in the clamping configuration. In this embodiment, it is possible to foresee that the above-mentioned magnetic coupling system includes a member in a ferromagnetic material 23 fixed to the coupling portion 21. It is clear that, in the clamping configuration, the member in a ferromagnetic material 23 is interposed and clamped between the two permanent magnets 13.
The above example of magnetic coupling system is the one currently preferred. However, it is possible to foresee variant embodiments, for example, according to a possible embodiment, the composite tie 1 is provided with a magnetic coupling system comprising:

a first permanent magnet fixed to the coupling portion 21 of the second part 20;
a second permanent magnet or a member in a ferromagnetic material fixed to one of said limbs;
a third permanent magnet or a member in a ferromagnetic material fixed to the other of said limbs.

In all the embodiments described above is possible to foresee, for example, in the case in which the first part 10 and/or the second part 20 are multilayer bodies, that both the permanent magnets 13 and the members in a ferromagnetic material 23 are accommodated in inner seats in spaces defined between two adjacent layers. For example, with reference to Figure 6, in the case in which the second part 20 comprises at least two layers superimposed on one another and sewn, glued or otherwise fixed at least along an outer peripheral edge, a member in a ferromagnetic material 23 is provided interposed between said layers. In the case in which the fixing of the two layers is exclusively along the outer peripheral edge, the second part 20 preferably and non-limitingly comprises a transverse seam that delimits the coupling portion 21 from a remaining portion of the second part 20. Furthermore, this seam prevents the member in a ferromagnetic material 23 from sliding freely inside the second part, keeping it therefore in position inside the coupling portion 21.
According to a possible embodiment, the permanent magnets 13 and/or the member in a ferromagnetic material 23 are shaped so that, in the clamping configuration, they allow keeping centred the coupling portion 21 of the second part 20 with respect to the first part 10 of the composite tie 1. For example, in a possible practical embodiment, to each of the two limbs 11 and 12 is fixed a ring-shaped permanent magnet 13 while, to the coupling portion 21 is fixed a ball of ferromagnetic material suitable to be centred with respect to the axes of the rings. In the case of multilayer structures, it is clear that the above rings can be inserted inside the limbs 11 and 12 and the ball 23 in a ferromagnetic material can be inserted inside the coupling portion 21.
With reference to Figure 3, thus far we have described a composite tie 1 wherein the second part 20 has a main body shaped as a band, wherein said coupling portion 21 is an end portion of said band and wherein the opposite end portion 22 of said band is a free end portion. With reference to Figures 7-9, note that wearing the above-mentioned composite tie 1 requires operations that are very simple and quick and that do not require the aid of a mirror. For example, starting from the release configuration of Figure 4, it is possible to hook the first part 10 of the composite tie 1 to the top button 3 of a shirt or T-shirt 2 and then, maintaining the first part 10 in the release configuration with one hand, it is possible to overlap with the other hand the coupling portion 21 of the second part 20 to the first limb 11 and bring, or let it fall, the second limb 12 on the coupling portion 21 so that the first part 10 assumes the clamping configuration and the two parts 10 and 20 are stably coupled together. It is clear that these operations are within the capacity of everyone and do not require the experience necessary for tying and wearing a traditional tie. Note that the first part of the composite tie 1 replaces the knot of a traditional necktie.
With reference to Figures 10 and 11, according to an alternative embodiment, the composite tie 1 is a bow tie and the second part 20 has a body mainly shaped like a bow or butterfly. In this case the coupling portion 21 of the second part 20 is a central portion of said main body shaped as a bow or butterfly. Wearing the composite bow tie 1 requires the same steps described above for wearing a composite band tie. Also note that the first part 10 could be a common part and that a user could have both a second part 20 shaped as a band and a second part 20 shaped as a butterfly and could decide to use one or the other from time to time as needed or a free personal choice.
With reference to Figure 12, there is shown a first variant embodiment of the first part 10, wherein said first part 10 comprises a hooking member 14 to the button 3 in the form of a slotted through-hole having relatively narrower sections 15 and relatively wider sections 16 to allow a wearer to select the fixing distance with respect to the button 3. Figure 13 shows a further embodiment wherein the first part 10 comprises two slotted holes 14 vertically aligned and substantially as described with reference to Figure 4. Also in the variant embodiment of Figure 13, the presence of two through-holes allows a wearer to select the fixing distance with respect to the button 3.
According to a possible non-limiting embodiment, the tie described above is part of a kit of parts further comprising an adapter, for example in the shape of ring with a radial cut or in the shape of an over-button, adapted to be coupled to the button 3 of the shirt or T-shirt 2 to increase the size of said button and ensure the hold of the first part 10 to the button 3.
With reference to Figures 14 and 15, there is shown a further variant embodiment wherein the magnetic coupling system includes a member in a ferromagnetic material 23 fixed to the second part 20 and provided with two opposed projecting members and also includes two permanent magnets 13 fixed to the first part 10 and provided with holes suitable to receive the opposed projecting members to ensure an easier centring and better coupling stability between the two parts 10,20. In a further variant the members 13 may be magnetic or ferromagnetic and the member 23 may be magnetic. In a further variant the members 13 may be equipped with projecting members while the member 23 may be equipped with opposed pairs of holes.
Without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of embodiment and details of construction may be varied widely with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Composite tie (1) comprising:
- a first part (10) comprising a main body comprising two limbs (11,12), the main body being foldable on itself, billfold-style, to assume a release configuration and a clamping configuration, wherein, in the clamping position, said limbs (11,12) are facing each other so as to form a clamp;

- a second part (20), made in a distinct piece from the first part (10) and removably couplable to it, comprising a coupling portion (21) adapted and configured to be interposed and clamped between said limbs (11,12) when said first part (10) is folded in the clamping configuration;

- a magnetic coupling system (13,23) adapted to maintain the first part (10) in the clamping configuration for coupling first (10) and second (20) part to each other;
characterised in that:
- the first part (10) comprises a hooking member (14) adapted to fix the first part (10) to a button (3) of a shirt or a T-shirt (2); and

- the main body is foldable around a folding axis (X-X) and the hooking member (14) is disposed between the folding axis (X-X) and an end portion of one of said limbs (11,12).
Composite tie (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hooking member (14) is a slotted through-hole defined inside the main body.
Composite tie (1) according to claim 2, wherein the slotted through-hole has a relatively wider first portion (15) and a relatively narrower second portion (16) flanking the first portion (15).
Composite tie (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body is a multilayer body comprising a first relatively flexible layer and a second layer relatively rigid with respect to the first relatively flexible layer.
Composite tie (1) according to claim 4, wherein the first layer is a sheet of fabric, leather, imitation leather or foldable metal foil and the second layer is a sheet of plastic material and wherein, in the clamping configuration, the first layer is disposed externally with respect to the second layer.
Composite tie (1) according to claim 5, wherein said plastic material is a polymeric material.
Composite tie (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic coupling system comprises a first permanent magnet (13) fixed to one of said limbs and a second permanent magnet (13) or a member in a ferromagnetic material (23) fixed to the other of said limbs (11, 12).
Composite tie (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic coupling system comprises a first permanent magnet (13) fixed to one of said limbs and a second permanent magnet (13) fixed to the other of said limbs and a member in a ferromagnetic material (23) fixed to said coupling portion (21).
Composite tie (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the magnetic coupling system comprises:
- a first permanent magnet fixed to the coupling portion (21);

- a second permanent magnet or a member in a ferromagnetic material fixed to one of said limbs (11, 12);

- a third permanent magnet or a member in a ferromagnetic material fixed to the other of said limbs (11, 12).
Composite tie (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second part (20) has a main body shaped like a band and wherein said coupling portion (21) is an end portion of said band.
Composite tie (1) according to any of preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the tie (1) is a bow tie and wherein the second part (20) has a main body shaped like a bow or butterfly and wherein the coupling portion (21) is a central portion of said main body shaped like a bow or butterfly.
Composite tie (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in the clamping configuration, the main body has a portion (18) folded or curved proximal to said folding axis (X-X), which is a free end portion of the first part (10).
Composite tie (1) according to claim 12, wherein said portion (18) of the main body is curved or folded in a C or U or V-shape.
Kit of parts comprising a composite tie (1) according to claim 1 and an adapter adapted to be coupled to the button (3) to increase the size of said button (3) and ensure the hold of the first part (10) to the button (3).