GB2468131A - Protective necktie case and rack - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective necktie travel case and storage rack for neckties includes a rigid protective back cover 1 and a semi-rigid transparent front cover 2 attached together by a flexible strip 3, which can be folded and zipped into travel luggage (Fig.4). When unzipped the case can stretch out into a necktie storage rack (Fig.3). In the interior of the case are several flexible transparent sleeve-like jackets 7 designed to protect ties from damage such as wrinkles and to secure the ties on a rigid hang bar 10. The transparent jackets are secured by popper clips 8 and attached to the hang bar on special clip hangers 9, which can be unclipped to switch jackets around. Twin bend-safe rigid bars 4 are fastened together using a fastener 6 to form a soft-faced straight bar over which the case folds preventing the ties from creasing or rumpling.

Description

Protective Necktie Case and Rack This invention relates to a dual-purpose protective case and rack for packing neckties and related items for travel or home storage.

When people travel, they often have to choose one or two most appropriate ties of theirs for the journey and usually end up squashing them into their luggage with other items oftentimes causing the ties to be damaged due to rumpling or ceasing in cramped suitcases. Other reasons that can lead to rumpling is when heavier objects in the suitcase squeeze against the ties during routine searches at airport security or even as travelers ransack their suitcase for one reason or another. Because of this, travelers often miss out packing their best or most expensive ties for fear of ruining them or laundering them frequently.

In addition, there are other tie case designs in existence; such cases usually limit the number of ties that can be packed by the traveler to one. Hence, for the traveler to pack many ties is not possible without consuming a significant portion of the luggage space with multiple cases or getting the ties rumpled.

Another major setback that frequent travelers face with conventional carrying methods is the time spent selecting, packing and unpacking ties for each business trip; this is especially the case for frequent traveler who would prefer to select less, pack less and unpack less ties for each trip by using a single case that forms part of a main luggage. As time is of the essence to a frequent traveler, the desired travel case will not only be a time saver but also a relief from having to choose ties each time and will minimize tie handling as too much handling can lead to rumpling, creasing or damage of ties.

The desired case should also be able to give a traveler easy access to review packed ties at a glance without the need to open the case.

Furthermore, people run into difficulties at home finding protective and portable ways to store and manage their ties within and outside their closets, a way that eases access and yet saves ties from dust, stains, creeping objects (e.g. insects), cobwebs, ete, and still takes up minimal space in the wardrobes.

The storage device should also be affordable such that one can acquire more than one storage case, when necessary.

To overcome these challenges and achieve the desired objectives listed above, this invention proposes a new smart protective tie storage and travel case for managing neckties and related items between home and travel. Being of dual purpose, it can be used in its folded form as a small case to pack select neckties into a suitcase and small airline carry-on or in their unfolded form as a storage rack to protect and store neckties on a wall or wardrobe. It allows the user to neatly pack select neckties of various types (e.g. bow tie, long tie, or pre-knot ties, cravats, and the likes), preventing them from creasing or rumpling and also from dirt, moisture, stain or cobwebs. It can hold up to six to over ten ties depending on configuration and it also has compartments for carrying cravats, cufflinks, and similar effects.

The invention will now be described solely by way of an example and with reference to accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows all views of protective tie case and rack in unfolded position.

Figure 2 shows isometric view of protective tie case and rack in unfolded position.

Figure 3 shows all views of protective tie case and rack in folded position.

Figure 4 shows isometric view of protective tie case and rack in folded position.

Figure 5 shows front views of transparent sleeve jackets of the protective case and rack.

The outer material is made from a rigid rear cover (1) with soft lining inside and semi-rigid transparent front cover (2) either formed by one piece or joined together by a foldable soft material strip (3), which can be folded for compact storage in a small luggage. The folding is around a bend-safe object (4), which is then sealed up using zippers (5) around the three open corners. The bend-safe objects (4) are cylindrical piece of bars covered with soft material. The bend-safe bars are rigidly hinged at both ends by two fixed swivel hinges (15), fastened together into one rigid straight bar using a specially designed latch system (6) that retains the sleeved ties in their position and protects them from creasing or rumpling as the case is folded. The swivel ends of the unlatching bend-safe bars are located at the intersection of(1) and (2) and allow the bars to be swung aside 1800 about the swivel hinges (15).

When unlatched at (6) both free-ends of the bend-safe bar swung open to extract the ties. Each tie is packed into a crease protection system made of clear transparent sleeve jackets (7), which comes with popper clips (8) that serve as double protection to keep the ties intact, stretched by their own weight to avoid wrinkles, creases and rumples. Once packed, each tie is purely held in place by friction. Each transparent sleeve jacket is wrapped around a rigid hang bar (9) using specially designed clip hangers (10) that come in different shapes. Front clip hangers (10) are made for front row ties while rear clip hangers (17), sandwiched between the clip hangers (10), are for rear ties. 8y combining the front and rear hangers it possible to cluster more than ten ties within a shorter space making maximum utilization of available space. The rigid hang bar (9) has two rigidly fixed ends (11) that support the transparent sleeve jackets. The transparent sleeve jackets are also available in various variations each for a different tie type or tie state -for example unknotted neckties (7), pre-knotted neckties (18) and bow ties (19). Within the front transparent cover is located a safe transparent storage pocket (16) for cravats and similar items. There is also a segmented slot arrangement (20) within the rigid rear cover for storing other items such as cufflinks and the likes.

When unfolded (Figure 1 & 2), the smart device can be used as a rack to store ties at home. It will conveniently protect and suspend at least six or more ties per case, The capacity is almost doubled by adding the rear clipped hangers (17). Multiple cases can be used depending on number of ties that are available for storage. The protective tie case can be kept inside a wardrobe using a removable rigid hook (12), or hung on to a wall using the built-in holes (13) at the top flank (14) of the case. When hung, all ties are visible via either side of the rack enabling full and easy access for selectivity. To convert it into a smart protective travel tie case is simply by a fold-and-zip-up operation.

When folded (Figure 3 and 4), the smart device can be secured by zippers (5) to form a small case for packing select neckties, cravats, cufflinks, etc into a travel suitcase or small airline carry-on. One face of the case is permanently visible through the semi-rigid transparent front cover (2), which allows assessment of all packed ties, cravats and cufflinks at a glance without having to open or unravel the case. In this shape. it assumes the same size in the suitcase as that of a folded shirt and can also be hung in a closet in this manner ready for travel.