GB2484340A

GB2484340A - A garment collar extending device

Info

Publication number: GB2484340A
Application number: GB201016982A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Bowman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-08
Filing date: 2010-10-08
Publication date: 2012-04-11
Also published as: GB201016982D0

Abstract

A garment collar extending device (300, figure 2) comprises an elongate body 301 and a releasable fastener 304; said elongate body being provided with a first elongate aperture 302 through which a button 103 of a shirt can be inserted and a second elongate aperture 303; said releasable fastener having first and second retaining end portions 305, 306 and a shank 307, narrower than and connecting said end portions, that is slideably received in the second aperture. The first retaining end portion may comprise a taper portion. The second aperture may comprise a shank housing portion (715, figure 7) and an entry passage (716) extending between an edge of the elongate body and the shank housing portion. A necktie gripping member (920, figure 10), engageable with a necktie tied around a garment collar, is preferably provided and may comprise a clamp member fitted on the elongate body. Also disclosed are methods of connecting first and second ends of a garment collar band to extend a circumference of said collar band.

Description

TMPROVEMENTS iN FASTENING GARMENT COLLARS

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to fastening of garment collars such as shin, blouse and tunic collars and is particularly suited to use with a shin-necktie combination.

Background to the Invention

Formal shins; i.e. those shins intended to be worn in combination with a necktie, are provided with a button at one end of a collar band and a buttonhole at the other end of the collar band.

When the button is fastened through the buttonhole, the circumference of the collar band is regulated severely, so much so that shins are sold in a range of collar sizes that typically differ by only one centimetre (or half an inch).

For maximum smartness and comfon, the wearer of this type of shin must choose an exact collar size. The wearer's neck circumference will probably change over the lifetime of the shin, resulting in the collar being too loose, or more likely, too tight.

Even if the wearer's neck stays the same size during the life of a shin, repeated washing will cause the collar to shrink and thus constrict the wearer's neck. Major shin makers accept that cotton shin collars will shrink by around half an inch (approximately 12.5mm) during the first few washes. Depending on the quality of the cotton used, the collar might shrink a further half an inch over the lifetime of a shin.

The wearers of formal shirts, in combination with neckties, have in the past experienced few ways out of this problem. One solution has been to unbutton the shirt and hope the necktie knot hides the unregulated gap between the ends of the collar band. This is most unsatisfactory in two ways - 1. The unfastened ends of the collar band are free to move perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the collar band, resulting in either the buttonhole or button end of the collar band poking visibly up from behind the tightened necktie knot and looking untidy.

2. The necktie knot is tightened directly against the neck of the wearer and not against a fastened collar. The collar band's material stiffhess and resistance to compression along its length would normally provide protection for the wearer's neck against a tightening necktie and for greatest comfort neckties should be tightened against the longitudinal compressive resistance of the shirt collar band rather than directly against the neck of the wearer.

Another solution has been the use of elastic fasteners. These are unsatisfactory for the reasons set out in item 2 above.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a garment collar extending device as specified in claim 1.

The invention also includes a garment collar extending device as specified in claim 2.

The invention also includes a garment collar extending device as specified in claim 3.

The invention also includes a garment collar extending device as specified in claim 4.

The invention also includes a method of connecting a first end and a second end of a garment collar band as specified in claim 13.

The invention also includes a method of connecting a first end and a second end of a garment collar band as specified in claim 15.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be well understood, some embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the drawings, in Figure 1 shows a shirt collar band extending device and a shirt collar band; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ship collar band extending device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the shirt collar band extending device of Figure 2 attached to a shirt in its widest open position; Figure 4 shows the shin collar band extending device of Figure 2 attached to a shin in its frilly closed position; Figure 5 is a view from above of the shirt collar band extending device shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows another a shin collar band extending device; Figure 7 shows yet another shirt collar band extending device; Figure 8 shows still another shirt collar band extending device; Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the circled portion of the shin collar extending device of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a shirt collar band extending device provided with necktie gripping members; Figure 11 shows an example of a gripping member for the shirt collar extending device of Figure 10; Figure 12 is a cross-section view on line I-I in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a view of the shirt collar band extending device of Figure 10 from above as viewed in Figure 11; and Figure 14 is another example of a gripping member for the shirt collar band extending device of Figure 10.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments Figure 1 shows the neck region of a shirt that comprises a collar band having one end 101 provided with a button 103 and an opposite end 102 provided with a buttonhole 104 through which the button can be inserted to secure the two ends of the collar band to one another. A collar 110 extends from an upper edge of the collar band.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a garment collar extending device in the form of a shirt collar band extending device 300 comprises an elongate body 301 and a releasable fastener 304.

The body 301 is substantially broad oblong in shape. Although not essential, the body 301 may have rounded ends as shown in Figure 2. The body 301 comprises a relatively rigid, but flexible, sheet of material that can readily bow to follow the curvature of a wearer's neck, yet still possess sufficient stiffness to provide compressive resistance to the tightening of a necktie without buckling.

In one half of the flat body 301 there is an aperture, or slot, 303 through which the releasable fastener 304 can be inserted after, or before, it is passed through the buttonhole 104. In the other half of the body 301 is another aperture, or slot, 302, through which the button 103 can be inserted.

The body 301 may be 0.3 to 3 mm in thickness, have a length substantially in the range 40 to 100 mm and a width substantially in the range 10 to 30mm.

The device may be manufactured from a relatively thin flat sheet of clear, transparent, semi transparent or opaque polymer material. The polymer material may be colourless or coloured to allow colour coordination with a wearer's shift. The material should be strong enough to withstand twisting and bending and stiff enough to have sufficient compressive resistance to provide the stiffness required of the shift collar band. The material may, for example, be polypropylene, polyethyleneterephthalate or polyvinylchloride. Alternatively, the material may be a metal, mica, cellulose, other polymer or elastomer or a fabric.

The slots 302, 303 in the body 301 extend approximately horizontally in series and may extend along the longitudinal axis of body. The slots 302, 303 may have a width substantially in the range 2 to 7 mm and a length substantially in the range 10mm to 2 5mm.

The releasable fastener 304 has two relatively broad ends 305, 306 connected by a shank 307.

One of the ends 305 may be smaller than the other end 306 and can be inserted through one or the other of the slots 302, 303 by flexing or twisting the body 301 such that the width of the slot increases sufficiently for the end 305 to pass through. Once the end 305 has passed through the slot, the slot width reduces to its original size to clamp on the shank 307 in a loose maimer whereby the fastener 304 is captured until it needs to be released by repeating the twisting and flexing action described above. In the illustrated example, the end 305 comprises a taper portion to facilitate insertion through the slot 302, 303 and the shirt collar buttonhole. In the illustrated example, the taper portion dome and the end 306 is a disc of larger diameter than the largest diameter of the end 305. The ends 305, 306 serve to retain the releasable fastener 304 in the buttonhole 104 and slot 303.

In use, the wearer connects the body 301 to the end 101 of the collar band by inserting the button 103 through the slot 302 such that the body lies against the surface of the collar band from which the button projects. The wearer then connects the body 301 to the opposite end 102 of the collar band using the releasable fastener 304. The wearer may do this by inserting the end 305 of the fastener 304 through the buttonhole 104 such that the end 306 is disposed against a surface of the collar band that contacts the wearer's neck and the end 305 projects beyond the oppositely disposed surface of the collar band. The slot 303 is then brought into proximity with the end 305 of the fastener 304, which is forced through the slot 303. In this way, the body 301 is connected to, and thereby connects, the two ends 101, 102 of the collar band. Once the body 301 is connected to the two ends 101, 102 of the collar band, the user can adjust the collar band extension to the required amount by relative sliding movement of the body 301 and shank 307 of the fastener 304. Once the wearer has obtained a comfortable closure of the collar band, a necktie 201 can be tied in place, after which the shirt collar band extending device 300 will be at least substantially hidden from view.

It should be understood that the above-described sequence of operation is not the only way of connecting the two ends 101, 102 of the collar band. For example, the wearer niay choose to connect the releasable fastener 304 to the body 301 before connecting to the collar band. This can be achieved by first inserting the end 305 through the slot 303 in the body 301 and then inserting the end 306 through the buttonhole 104. Additionally, or alternatively, the wearer may choose to connect the body 301 to end 102 of the collar band first and then connect the end 101 using the button 103.

Whatever sequence of operation is adopted, as shown Figures 3 and 4 the shirt collar extending device 300 is worn against the outside of the shirt collar band (the side opposite the side abutting the neck of the wearer) and behind the knot of the necktie. In its widest open position shown in Figure 3, the shirt collar extending device 300 provides its maximum S extension of the shirt collar band. In this condition, the ends 1101, 102 of the collar band are spaced apart. In its fully closed position shown in Figure 4, the device provides its minimum extension and lives over the overlapped ends 101, 102 of the collar band and will be hidden by the knot of the necktie.

In combination with the wearer's neck, the button 103, releasable fastener 304, necktie knot, and body 301 of the shirt collar extending device 300 will guide, squeeze and jam together the ends 101, 102 of the shirt collar band, forming a stiff and resistant extension of the shirt collar band against which the necktie can be tightened and an attractive knot formed without increasing the constrictive pressure on the wearer's neck. The constrictive, frictional and squeezing engagement of the body 301 and the two ends 101, 102 of the collar band and its coupling with the collar band by means of the button 103 and releasable fastener 304 at least substantially prevents the body from moving out of line with the longitudinal axis of the shirt collar band. That is the body 301 may not be able to poke above (or below) the necktie knot so that the device 300 will remain hidden and the neck area tidy.

The combination of the two slots 302, 303 of the shirt collar extending device 300 and a third slot (the buttonhole 104) makes possible a wide fully-open position that allows for a significant range of extension of the collar band circumference and easy connection of the device to the collar band. Increasing the possible distance between the two ends 101, 102 of the collar band is a distinct advantage for wearers with stubbier fingers, who have problems manipulating buttons and buttonholes when the shirt collar band is clamped tightly around their neck.

Since the shirt collar band extending device 300 makes no, or only minimal, contact with the neck of the wearer when worn, it should be comfortable to wear. As shown in Figure 5, when the ends 101, 102 of the collar band are sufficiently overlapped, the end 101 is at least substantially between the end 306 of the releasable fastener 304 and the wearer's neck.

Figure 6 shows another garment collar extending device in the form of a shirt collar extending device 600. Features of the device 600 that are the same as or similar to those of the shirt collar extending device 300 will be referenced by the same reference numerals incremented by 300 and to avoid repetition of description may not be described again.

The shirt collar extending device 600 comprises an elongate body 601, which may have the same properties as the elongate body 301. The elongate body 601 is provided with an aperture, or slot, 602 through which a shirt button can be inserted and an aperture, or slot, 603 through which a releasable fastener 604 can be inserted before or after it is inserted through a S button hole of a shirt collar.

The elongate body 601 comprises two mutually inclined body portions 601(1), 601(2) extending oppositely from a transverse centreline 601(3) of the body. The inclined body portions 601(1), 601(2) give the body a shallow V-profile, which may be rounded in the central region to give the appearance of a U with diverging limbs. The slots 602, 603 are mutually inclined and may extend along, or parallel to, the respective longitudinal axes of the body portions 601(1), 601(2).

The body portions 601(1), 601(2) andlor slots 602, 603 are mutually inclined so as to better conform to the angle made by the ends 101, 102 of a collar band when fastened around the neck of a wearer. The angle between the respective axes of the body parts 60 1(1), 60 1(2) and/or the respective axes of the slots 602, 603 is an obtuse angle that may be in the range 135 to 179°. The relative inclination of the body portions 60 1(1), 60 1(2) and the slots 602, 603 is shown as being the same in Figure 6, but may be different if desired.

Figure 7 shows a shirt collar extending device 700. Features of the device 700 that are the same as or similar to those of the shirt collar extending device 300 will be referenced by the same reference numerals incremented by 400 and to avoid repetition of description may not be described again.

The shirt collar extending device 700 comprises an elongate body 701, which may have the same properties as the elongate body 301. The body 701 is provided with an aperture in the form of an elongate slot 702 through which a shirt button can be inserted. The body 701 is additionally provided with an aperture 703 for receiving a shank 707 of a releasable fastener 704. The aperture 703 comprises a shank housing portion 715 and an entry passage 716.

Although not essential, the shank housing portion 715 comprises a generally circular section through-hole that extends between the major faces of the body 701 (the shank housing portion 715 may, for example, be a slot similar to the slot 303 shown in Figure 2). The entry passage 716 extends from a lengthways extending edge 717 of the body 701 to the shank housing portion 715. The opposed sides of the entry passage 716 converge towards the shank housing portion 715 and define a constriction that resists movement of the shank 707 from the shank housing portion. In the illustrated example the constriction is at the point at which the entry passage 716 joins the shank housing portion 715. However, the constriction could be provided at any convenient location along the length of the entry passage. Equally, the entry passage 716 may be provided at any convenient location on the body 701 and is not restricted to the edge 717. Alternatively, the entry passage 716 may define a constriction along at substantially its entire length.

The releasable fastener 704 may conveniently have the same general configuration as the fastener 304. However, since it is only the shank 707 that has to be inserted into the body 701, it is not necessary for either of the ends 705, 706 to penetrate the body 701.

Accordingly, the designer has a greater freedom in choosing the size and shape of the ends.

In use, the releasable fastener 704 can be fitted to the body 701 before or after insertion through the button hole of the shirt according to the wishes of the wearer. The fastener 704 is fitted to the body 701 by a movement that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body and in the plane of the body. The fastener shank 707 enters the entiy passage 716 at an edge 717 of body and is moved inwardly towards the shank housing portion 715. In order to pass from the entry passage 716 into the shank housing portion 715, the shank is snap-fitted past the constriction. The constriction serves to keep the shank within the shank housing portion.

Once fitted, the shank is able to slide back and forth in the shank housing portion 715 in the axial direcrion of the shank housing portion (ic generally perpendicular to the plane of the body 701) but is substantially prevented from sliding movement in the plane of the body until such time as the wearer snaps the shank past the constriction to remove the fastener from the body.

Figures 8 and 9 show another shirt collar extending device 800. Features of the device 800 that are the same as or similar to those of the shirt collar extending device 300 will be referenced by the same reference numerals incremented by 500 and to avoid repetition of

description may not be described again.

The shirt collar extending device 800 comprises an elongate body 801 that may have the same properties as the elongate body 301. The elongate body has respective apertures 802, 803 for receiving a shirt button (not shown) and a releasable fastener (also not shown) which may be the same as or similar to the fastener 304. The elongate body 801 is provided with a plurality of gripping members 820 for gripping a necktie tied against the shirt collar extending device 800. The gripping members 820 comprise a plurality of gripping formations that project from the ends of the body 801. In the illustrated example the gripping formations are generally triangular formations that project from the curved ends of the body 801 and lie in the plane of the body. The gripping formations may of course be of a different shape and/or at least partially project from the plane of the body 801. As an alternative to formations projecting from an edge of tile body 801, the gripping formations may take the form of indents, or recesses, provided in an edge of the body. Still another alternative would be to provide projections on a major face of the body 801 and or surface roughening on that face.

The provision of gripping members 820 can improve the lateral stability of the body 801 S when it is sandwiched between the necktie and shirt collar band. One or more of the gripping members 820 may, when squeezed into neckband material of the tightened necktie, or material of the shirt, stop the body 801 from moving such that it becomes visible, thus keeping the device 800 hidden and the collar area neat and tidy.

Figures 10 to 13 show a shirt collar extending device 900. Features of the device 900 that are the same as or similar to those of the shirt collar extending device 300 will be referenced by the same reference numerals incremented by 600 and to avoid repetition of description may not be described again.

The shirt collar extending device 900 comprises an elongate body 901 that may have the same properties as the elongate body 301. The elongate body 901 has respective apertures for receiving a shirt button 103 and a releasable fastener 904 which may be the same as or similar to the fastener 304.

The shirt collar extending device 900 differs from the other examples in that it is provided with gripping members 920 that can be used to secure the body 901 to the neck tie 922. In Figures 10 and 13 the necktie is shown as a bow tie, but could be a necktie as shown in Figure 5. As best seen in Figures 11, 12 and 14, the gripping members 920 are generally rectangular bodies having a polygonal through hole 924 for receiving the body 901 and a portion of the neckband 926 of the necktie 922. In the example shown in Figures 11 and 12, one wall of the gripping member 920 has a split 928 formed midway along its length. The gripping member 920 shown in Figure 14 differs in that it is a closed loop. The gripping menibers may be made of a springy polymer. It will be understood that provided there is sufficient flex in a split gripping member, the member may be filled in place once the shirt collar extending device 900 and necktie 922 are in place, whereas a gripping member with insufficient flexibility and/or no split will have to be fitted before the necktie is secured.

As illustrated in Figure 13, the gripping members 920 can be used to secure the body 901 of the shirt collar extending device 900 to the neckband 926 of the necktie 922 so that the body is restrained and should not poke above or below the neckband. The gripping members are envisaged as being particularly useful when the shirt collar extending device is used to extend the shirt collar band of a dress shirt when worn with a bow tie, which does not have such a large knot to hide the device as a normal necktie.

It will be understood that because the illustrated examples of the shirt collar extending device can provide a means of successfully elongating a shirt collar band that is too small for a wearer's neck that can remain largely hidden from view.

It will be understood that manufacture of the illustrated garment collar extending devices can be more economical than previous connecting devices. The body can be readily be produced by a stamping or moulding process and similarly the releasable fastener can be readily produced by a moulding or casting process. The releasable fastener can be fitted to the body by a simple push-fitting action.

The apertures, or slots, can have shapes other than those shown in the illustrated embodiments, for example, oval, oblong, elliptical, dumbbell etc. The main flat body can also have other shapes; such as triangular, batwing, banana, boomerang, "V" shaped, broad "U" shaped. The releasable fastener can be of one-piece dumbbell shape, screw-in stud, conforming poppers, sprung wire, plastic clips or other flexible or squeezable connectors, etc. The illustrated shirt collar extending devices allow the circumference of a shirt collar band to be extended in order to reduce the pressure of the collar band on the neck of the wearer.

The illustrated shirt collar extending devices may be easy to attach to and detach from a shirt.

In allowing for use entirely outside the collar band, it is possible to avoid irritating the neck of the wearer. The placement of the illustrated shirt collar extending devices between the shirt collar band and the necktie knot provides a guide and stiffening support membrane that linearly extends the shirt collar band. The combination of the overlapped ends of the shirt collar band can provide further stiffening to the extension with a squeezing and clamping mechanism produced by this multi-layered sandwich of materials. The illustrated shirt collar extending devices should remain hidden when in use and not poke out from their hidden position behind the knot or neckband of a tightened necktie or bow tie.

It will be understood that positioning the body of the garment collar extending device entirely on the outside of the shirt collar band provides greater stiffness in the extension of the shirt collar band, resulting from a sandwiching of the body between the ends of the collar band and the necktie, than if the body is worn with one end on the outside of the collar band and one end on the inside of the collar band against the wearer's neck.

It will be understood that in cases in which the garment extending device is worn with the ends of the collar band closed up and overlapping (for example as shown in Figure 5), friction caused by overlapping the ends of the shirt collar band increases both the stiffness and the resistance to any buckling or kinking of the collar band extension.

It will be understood that because the garment collar extending device can be worn outside the collar band so that the body of the device does not contact the neck of the wearer, use of the device should not discomfort the wearer.

It will be understood that the elongate body and/or releasable fastener of the garment collar S extending device can be made in a range of colours that allow colour coordination with a wearer's garment.

Claims

CLAIMSI. A garment collar extending device comprising an elongate body provided with a first elongate aperture through which a button of a garment can be inserted and a second elongate aperture, and a releasable fastener held in said second elongate aperture, said releasable fastener comprising a first retaining end portion, a second retaining end portion and a shank connecting said end portions, said shank being nanower than said retaining end portions and slideably received in said second elongate aperture such that the elongate body can move transversely of said shank by relative sliding movement of said shank and body in a lengthways direction of said second elongate aperture.
2. A garment collar extending device comprising an elongate body and releasable fastener, said elongate body being provided with a first aperture through which a button of a garment can be inserted and a second aperture through which said releasable fastener can be inserted and 1) said elongate body comprising first and second mutually inclined body portions disposed on opposite sides of a transverse centreline of said elongate body, and/or 2) said apertures being elongate apertures having first and second ends disposed on opposite sides of a transverse centrelinc of said elongate body and extending from said first ends away from said centreline in mutually inclined direcrions.
3. A garment collar extending device comprising an elongate body and a releasable fastener to be inserted through a buttonhole of a garment collar, said body being provided with a first aperture through which a button of said garment collar can be inserted and a second aperture through which said releasable fastener can be inserted, said releasable fastener comprising a first retaining end portion, a second retaining end portion and a shank connecting said end portions and said first retaining end portion comprising a taper portion for facilitating insertion of said first retaining end portion through said buttonhole and/or second aperture.
4. A garment collar extending device comprising a releasable fastener to be inserted through a buttonhole of a garment collar and an elongate body, said body being provided with a first aperture for receiving a button of said garment collar and a second aperture for receiving said releasable fastener, said releasable fastener comprising a first retaining end portion, a second retaining end portion and a shank connecting said end portions, said second aperture comprising a shank housing portion and an entry passage extending between an edge of said body and said shank housing portion and said entry passage being provided with a constriction to impede passage of said shank from said second aperture.
5. A garment collar extending device comprising a releasable fastener to be inserted through a buttonhole of a garment collar, an elongate body, said body being provided with a first aperture for receiving a button of said garment collar and a second aperture for receiving said releasable fastener, and at least one necktie gripping member engagable with a necktie tied around said garment collar.
6. A garment collar extending device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising at least one necktie gripping member engagable with a necktie tied around said garment collar.
7. A garment collar extending device as claimed in claim S or 6, wherein said at least one necktie gripping member comprises a clamp member fitted on said body for clamping a portion of said necktie therebetween.
8. A garment collar extending device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said clamp member comprises a through-hole for receiving said body and necktie portion.
9. A garment collar extending device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein said at least one necktie gripping member comprises at least one gripping formation projecting from an end region of said body.
10. A garment collar extending device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein said first and second apertures comprise elongate apertures.
11. A garment collar extending device as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 3 or 5 or a claim dependent on any one of claims I to 3 or 5, wherein said second aperture comprises a shank housing portion and an entry passage extending between an edge of said body and said shank housing portion and said entry passage being provided with a constriction to impede passage of said shank from said second aperture.
12. A garment collar extending device as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5 or a claim dependent on any one of claims 1, 2, 4 or 5, comprising a taper portion for facilitating insertion of said first retaining end portion through said buttonhole and/or second aperture.
13. A method of connecting a first end and a second end of a garment collar band to extend a circumference of said collar band, said method comprising: connecting an elongate collar band extender body to said first end by inserting a button provided at said first end through a first aperture provided in said extender body; connecting said extender body to said second end by a releasable fastener that extends through a button hole of said collar band and a second aperture provided in said body; and positioning said body against said first and second ends such that it lies on surfaces of said first and second ends that face away from a neck of a wearer of said garment.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said second aperture is an elongate aperture and comprising adjusting said circumference by causing relative movement of said shank and extender body.
15. A method of connecting a first end and a second end of a garment collar band to extend a circumference of said collar band, said method comprising: connecting an elongate collar band extender body to said first end by inserting a button providcd at said first end through a first elongate aperture provided in said cxtcnder body; connecting said extender body to said second end by a releasable fastener that extends through a button hole of said collar band and a second elongate aperture provided in said body, said releasable fastener comprising a first retaining end portion, a second retaining end portion and a shank extending between said retaining end portions; and adjusting said circumference by causing relative movement of shank and extender body.
16. A method as claimed in claim 14 or 15, comprising adjusting said circumference such that said first and second ends of said garment collar band are in overlying relationship and said extender body overlies said overlying ends.
17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 or 16, comprising inserting said releasable fastener through said buttonhole prior to insertion through said second aperture.
18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, comprising inserting said button through said first aperture prior to insertion of said releasable fastener through said first aperture.
19. A method as claimed in claim any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein insertion of said releasable fastener through said second aperture comprises moving a portion of said releasable fastener through a side entry that extends from an edge of said elongate body in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of said body and a plane in which said elongate S body is disposed.
20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 19, further comprising securing a neck band of a tie to said elongate body by at least one securing member such that a portion of said neck band is positioned between said elongate body and at least one securing member.
21. A garment collar extending device substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.
22. A method of connecting a first end and a second end of a garment collar band substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.