US20230329378A1

US20230329378A1 - Shirt garment with hidden magnet

Info

Publication number: US20230329378A1
Application number: US18/120,888
Authority: US
Inventors: John O'Donnell
Original assignee: Johnnie-O
Current assignee: Johnnie-O
Priority date: 2013-11-19
Filing date: 2023-03-13
Publication date: 2023-10-19
Also published as: US20180213851A1; US20200253288A1; US20210204617A1

Abstract

The collared shirt has a placket with a top piece and bottom piece extending at least a portion of the length of the shirt. The bottom piece comprises an attached collar male button, an attached first male button spaced apart from the collar male button and below the collar male button, and an attached second male button spaced apart from the first male button and below the first male button, and an intermediate male magnetic button between the first and second male buttons. The top piece comprises female buttons corresponding to the male buttons on the bottom piece. The top piece further comprises an intermediate female magnetic button corresponding to the intermediate male magnetic button and affixed to an inner side of the top piece.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/121,550, filed Dec. 14, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/734,293, filed Jan. 3, 2020, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/860,227, filed Jan. 2, 2018, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/451,797, filed Mar. 7, 2017, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/421,142, filed Jan. 31, 201, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/369,780, filed Dec. 5, 2016, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/084,382, filed Nov. 19, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,538,791, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Business casual is an increasingly viable mode of dress. For most, business casual includes a button down collared shirt or blouse. The top buttons of these garments are often left unsecured, so as to leave open the collar area for a more casual appearance, even while wearing business attire.
However, often times, the placement of the buttons on the garment are not custom to the wearer. This may lead to an uncomfortable situation. If the wearer is too buttoned up—i.e. one too many buttons are buttoned—he/she may project the appearance of being uptight or stuffy. If the wearer is too buttoned down—i.e. one too few buttons are buttoned—he/she may be seen as sloppy. This is particularly troublesome where being too buttoned down exposes an inappropriate amount of chest hair or cleavage. But, if one were to simply add more buttons to a shirt or blouse, the resultant look would be aesthetically unpleasing simply due to the excess number of buttons.
It is therefore desirable to provide garments having hidden intermediate buttons between the topmost exposed buttons that will permit wearers to be optimally unbuttoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shirt, with or without a collar, is described herein that overcomes the limitations noted above.
A shirt with a collar has a placket with a top piece and bottom piece extending at least a portion of the length of the shirt. The bottom piece comprises an attached collar male button snap, an attached first male button spaced apart from the collar male button and below the collar male magnetic button, and an attached second male button spaced apart from the first male button and below the first male button, and an intermediate male magnetic button between the first and second male buttons. The top piece comprises female buttons corresponding to the male buttons on the bottom piece. The top piece further comprises an intermediate female magnetic button corresponding to the intermediate male magnetic button and affixed to an inner side of the top piece.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus and method of its use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one of the best mode embodiments of the present invention. In such drawing(s):

FIG. 1 illustrates a garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a garment showing a hidden intermediate button according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a three-button polo shirt according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is another illustration of the three-button polo shirt with a hidden intermediate button according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a four-button polo shirt according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another illustration of the four-button polo shirt with a hidden intermediate button according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is another illustration of a shirt with a hidden snap according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is another illustration of a shirt with a hidden magnetic button according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The above described drawing figures illustrate the described invention in at least one of its preferred, best mode embodiment, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications to what is described herein without departing from its spirit and scope. While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Therefore, it should be understood that what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example and should not be taken as a limitation on the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary garment 10 in accordance with at least one preferred embodiment. The garment 10 (for example, a shirt or blouse) comprises a collar 20 and a placket 40 extending therefrom, permitting a user to don the garment with substantial ease. Preferably, the placket 40 extends the entire length of the garment 10, but it may also extend only a portion of the garment 10. Indeed, in embodiments where the placket 40 extends only a portion of the garment 10, it is preferable that the placket 40 extends the upper portion of the garment 40, as defined by the user's chest area while in use. The garment 10 may be made of any materials such as leather, denim, cotton, polyester, combinations of such materials, etc. The garment 10 may resemble any non-western style clothing articles. The garment 10 may also resemble any western-styled clothing articles such as casual shirts, formal shirts, t-shirts, polo shirts, etc. The placket 40 may comprise a top piece 42 that overlays a bottom piece 44 (shown in FIG. 2 ), the bottom piece 44 having a plurality of spaced apart exposed buttons 46 for removably engaging correspondingly spaced apart button holes 48 of the top piece. Thus, the top and bottom pieces may be disengaged so that the user may easily don the garment 10, and then reengaged to close the garment 10. In some embodiments, the collar 20 may also include one or more collar buttons 22 and corresponding button holes 24 (shown in FIG. 2 ). Importantly, the exposed buttons 46 and the collar buttons 22, when engaged with their respective button holes 48 and 24, are exposed through the button holes of the top piece 42 and therefore are plainly visible to an observer.
The plurality of buttons may include at least a first and a second button, and corresponding button holes. The first button is the button located closest to the collar 20, while the second button is the next closest. Neither the first nor the second button is located on the collar 20.
As shown in FIG. 2 , the bottom piece 44 may further comprise a hidden, intermediate button 56 located between the first and second buttons 46. In some embodiments, the intermediate button 56 may have a diameter that is less than the diameter of the first and second buttons 46. In other embodiments, the diameter of the intermediate button 56 may either be the same or greater than the first and second buttons 46. Corresponding to the intermediate button 56, the placket 40 may have a corresponding button hole 58 with dimensions corresponding to the hidden button 56 and located on the inner side of the top piece 42. In some embodiments, one edge of the inner side of the top piece 42 may not attached to the garment 10. In some embodiments, the button hole 58 may only extend through the inner side of the top piece 42 and not through the entire top piece 42 such that the intermediate button 56 is hidden from view when the intermediate button 56 is engaged with the corresponding button hole 58. In some embodiments, the intermediate button 56 may be located on the inner side of the top piece 42 and the corresponding button hole 58 may be located on the bottom piece 44. In some embodiments, there may be a hidden strip (not shown in figure) made of any material such as cotton, denim, etc., between the inner side and outer side of the top piece 42. The intermediate button 56 may be attached to the inner side of the top piece 42 and to the hidden strip to provide more support. The intermediate 56 button may be attached to the bottom piece 44 or the top piece 42 by any form of attachment such as sowing, Velcro, stapling, etc. The hidden strip may also prevent the form of attachment of the intermediate button 56 from being visible from the outer side of the top piece 42. For example, in some embodiments, the intermediate button 56 may be sewed on to the inner side of the top piece 42 and the hidden strip. In such an embodiment, the stitching is not visible from the outer side of the top piece 42. The hidden strip is not attached outside the inner and outer side of the top piece 42 because such an attachment results in potential separation between the top piece 42 and the bottom piece 44.
Turning to FIG. 3 , a three-button polo shirt 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The polo shirt 100 may include either long or short sleeves and may be made of the following materials: 100% cotton, 95% cotton/5% spandex, 96% cotton/4% spandex, 92% polyester/8% spandex, and/or 94% polyester/6% spandex. The polo shirt 100 may also be made of any materials such as leather, denim, cotton, polyester, combinations of such materials, etc. The polo shirt 100 may resemble any non-western style fashions. The polo shirt 100 may also resemble any western-styled shirts. The polo shirt 100 may comprise a collar 110 and a collar button 120 located on the front of the shirt 100 just below the left collar opening. The polo shirt 100 further includes a placket, having a bottom piece 125 and top piece 126, that runs a portion of the length of the shirt 100, long enough to accommodate a first button 130 below the collar button 120, and a second button 140 located below the first button 130. In one embodiment, the second button 140 is located approximately 3.75 inches from the first button 130, on the bottom piece 125, measured at the center of each button. Further, the second button 140 is located approximately 1.75 inches above the seam 150 of the placket pieces 125/126, which is located just above the end 160 of the placket. Each button on the bottom piece 125 may have a corresponding button hole on the top piece 126. For instance, collar button 120 may have a corresponding button hole located on 122. The first button 130 may have a corresponding button hole 132 located on the top piece 126. Likewise, the second button 140 has a corresponding button hole 142, also located on the top piece 126.
As with the previous embodiment, there's also a hidden button 135 for optimal wear, hidden in between the first button 130 and second button 140. Turning to FIG. 4 , what is shown is the three-button shirt 100 with the hidden button 135 revealed. The hidden button 135 is located on bottom piece 125, in between the first button 130 and second button 140 at approximately the midpoint. In some embodiments, the hidden button 135 is smaller in size than the first button 130 and second button 140. In some embodiments, the hidden button 135 is equal or bigger in size that the first button 130 and second button 140. On the top piece 126, there is a button hole 138 appropriately sized for the hidden button 135. In some embodiments, the button hole 138 only extends through the inner side (not shown) of the top placket 126 and therefore not visible from the upper surface of the top piece 126. In some embodiments, the hidden button 135 may be located on the inner side of the top piece 126 and the corresponding button hole 138 may be on located on the bottom piece 125. In some embodiments, the hidden button 135 may be stitched only on the inner side of the top piece 126 such that the stitching (not shown) does not appear on the outer side of the top piece 126. In other embodiments, the hidden button 135 may be stitched to the top piece 126 in a way that the stitching (not shown) appears on the outer side of the top piece 126. The stitching may be of any shape or design. In some embodiments, there may be a hidden strip (not shown in figure) made of any material such as cotton, denim, etc., between the inner side and outer side of the top piece 126. The hidden strip may serve the same purpose and work in a similar manner as described in the description of FIG. 2 .
Turning to FIG. 5 , a four-button polo shirt 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The polo shirt 200 may include either long or short sleeves. The polo shirt 200 may include either long or short sleeves and may be made of the following materials: 100% cotton, 95% cotton/5% spandex, 96% cotton/4% spandex, 92% polyester/8% spandex, and/or 94% polyester/6% spandex. The polo shirt 200 may also be made of any materials such as leather, denim, cotton, polyester, combinations of such materials, etc. The polo shirt 200 may resemble any non-western style fashions. The polo shirt 200 may also resemble any western-styled shirts such as casual shirts, formal shirts, t-shirts, polo shirts, etc. The polo shirt 200 may include a collar 210 and a collar button 220 located on the front of the shirt 200 just below the left collar opening. The polo shirt 200 may further include a placket with a top piece 226 and a bottom piece 225, that runs a portion of the length of the shirt 200, long enough to accommodate a first button 230 below the collar button 220, a second button 240 located below the first button 230, and a third button 270 located below the second button 240. In one embodiment, the first button 230 may be located approximately 60 millimeters from the collar button 220 on the bottom piece 225, measured at the center of each button. The second button 240 may be located approximately 50 millimeters from the first button 230. Further, the third button 270 may be located approximately 50 millimeters from the second button 240 and approximately 33 millimeters above the seam 250 of the placket pieces 225/226, which are located just above the end 260 of the placket pieces 225/226. Each button on the bottom piece 225 may have a corresponding button hole on the top piece 226. For example, collar button 220 may have a corresponding button hole located at 222. The first button 230 may have a corresponding button hole 232 located on the top piece 226. Likewise, the second button 240 may also have a corresponding button hole 242. Finally, the third button 270 may have a corresponding button hole 272. As with the previous embodiment, there may also be a hidden button 235 for optimal wear, hidden in between the first button 230 and second button 240.
Turning to FIG. 6 , what is shown is the four-button shirt 200 with the hidden button 235 revealed. The hidden button 235 may be located on bottom piece 225, in between the first button 230 and second button 240 at approximately the midpoint. Further, in some embodiments, the hidden button 235 may be smaller in size than the first button 230 and second button 240. In other embodiments, the hidden button 235 may be equal to or bigger in size than the first button 230 and second button 240. On the top piece 226, there may be a button hole 238 appropriately sized for the hidden button 235. In some embodiments, the button hole 238 only extends through the inner side (not shown) of the top piece 226 and therefore not visible from the upper surface of the top piece 226. In some embodiments, the hidden button 235 may be located on the inner side of the top piece 226 and the corresponding button hole 238 may be on located on the bottom piece 225. In some embodiments, the hidden button 235 may be stitched only on the inner side of the top piece 226 such that the stitching (not shown) does not appear on the outer side of the top placket 226. In other embodiments, the hidden button 235 may be stitched to the top placket 226 in a way that the stitching (not shown) appears on the outer side of the top placket 226. The stitching may be of any shape or design. In some embodiments, there may be a hidden strip (not shown in figure) that is made, functions, and serves similar purpose as described in the description FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 .
Turning to FIG. 7 , a shirt 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown, which uses button snaps instead of buttons and button holes. The shirt 300 may also be made of any materials such as leather, denim, cotton, polyester, combinations of such materials, etc. The shirt 300 may resemble any non-western style fashions. The shirt 300 may also resemble any western-styled shirts such as casual shirts, formal shirts, t-shirts, polo shirts, etc. The shirt 300 may include either long or short sleeves and may include a collar 310 and a male collar button snap 320 located on the front of the shirt 300 just below the left collar opening and a corresponding female button snap 322 just below the right collar opening. The shirt 300 may further include a placket with a top piece 326 and a bottom piece 325 that runs at least a portion of the length of the shirt 300, long enough to accommodate a first male button snap 330 below the collar button snap 320 and a second button snap 340 located below the first male button snap 330. Each male button snap on the bottom piece 325 may have a corresponding female button snap on the top piece 326. For example, the male collar button snap 320 may have a corresponding female button snap 322. The first male button snap 330 may have a corresponding female button snap 332 located on the top piece 326. Likewise, the second male button snap 340 may have a corresponding female button snap (shown snapped together). In some embodiments, the male button snaps, such as 320, 330, and 340 may be made of metal. In some embodiments, the snaps such as 320, 330, and 340 and the corresponding female button snaps such as 322, 332, etc., may be made of plastic, any other material, or combination of materials such that different snaps may me made of different materials. In some embodiments, the male button snaps may be made of a different material than their corresponding female button snaps.
As with the previous embodiment, there may also be a hidden male button snap 335 for optimal wear, hidden in between the first male button snap 330 and second male button snap 340. The hidden male button snap 335 may be located on bottom piece 325, in between the first male button snap 330 and second male button snap 340 at approximately the midpoint. In some embodiments, the hidden male button snap 335 may be made of metal. In some embodiments, the hidden male button snap 335 may be made of plastic or any other material. In some embodiments, the female button snap 338 maybe made of a different material than the male button snap 335. Further, in some embodiments, the hidden male button snap 335 may be smaller in size than the first male button snap 330 and second male button snap 340. In other embodiments, the hidden male button snap 335 may be equal to or bigger in size than the first male button snap 330 and second male button snap 340. On the top piece 326, there may be a female button snap 338 appropriately sized for the hidden male button snap 335. In some embodiments, the female button snap 338 may be attached only to the inner side (not shown) of the top piece 326 and therefore its mode of attachment such as stitching, sticking, etc., is not visible from the upper surface of the top piece 326. In some embodiments, the female button snap 338 may be attached to the top piece 326 in a way that its mode of stitching may be visible from the upper surface of the top piece 326. In some embodiments, the hidden male button snap 335 may be located on the inner side of the top piece 326 and the corresponding female button snap 338 may be on located on the bottom piece 325. In some embodiments, the hidden male button snap 335 may be stitched only on the inner side of the top piece 326 such that its mode of attachment (not shown) is not visible through the outer side of the top piece 326. In other embodiments, the hidden male button snap 335 may be attached to the top piece 326 in a way that its mode of attachment (not shown) appears on the outer side of the top piece 326. In some embodiments, there may be a hidden strip (not shown in figure) made of any material such as cotton, denim, etc., between the inner side and outer side of the top piece 326. The intermediate male button snap 335 or the corresponding female button snap 338 may be attached to the inner side of the top piece 326 and to the hidden strip to provide more support. The intermediate male button snap 335 or the corresponding female button snap 338 may be attached to the bottom piece 325 or the top piece 326 by any form of attachment such as sowing, Velcro, stapling, etc. The hidden strip also prevents the form of attachment of the intermediate male button snap 335 or corresponding female button snap 338 from being visible from the outer side of the top piece 326. The hidden strip is not attached outside the inner and outer side of the top piece 326 because such an attachment results in potential separation between the top piece 326 and the bottom piece 325. In some embodiments, there may be no hidden strip because unlike buttons, snaps have two separate pieces the male and female part that need to be attached to the fabric providing extra bulk to the snaps compared to the buttons. Additionally, unlike buttons, snaps do not need any room behind them so the snaps provide for a tighter look with minimal gap. As explained above, in such an embodiment, the intermediate snap may be attached to the top piece 326 and bottom piece 325 in a way that it only passes through the inner side or outer side of the top piece 326 and/or the bottom piece 325 whereas the regular snaps punch through both the inner and outer side or the top piece 326 and bottom piece 325. In some embodiments, the intermediate male button snap 335 may be a button and the corresponding female button snap 338 may be a corresponding hole for the button. In some embodiments, the intermediate male button snap 335 may be any other means of engaging the top piece 325 and the bottom piece 326, such as Velcro. In some embodiments, all or some of the regular male button snaps, such as 330 and 340 and/or the collar button snap 320 may be replaced with buttons, Velcro, or any other means of engaging the top piece 326 and bottom piece 325; and the corresponding female button snaps, such as 338, 322, etc., may also be replaced with appropriate means of engaging the top piece 325 and bottom piece 326. For example, in an embodiment, all the regular male button snaps and female button snaps may be replaced with buttons and button holes, respectively, while the intermediate male button snap 335 and the corresponding female button snap 338, both made of metal, remains.
Turning to FIG. 8 , a shirt 800 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown, which uses button snaps instead of buttons and button holes. The shirt 800 may also be made of any materials such as leather, denim, cotton, polyester, combinations of such materials, etc. The shirt 800 may resemble any non-western style fashions. The shirt 800 may also resemble any western-styled shirts such as casual shirts, formal shirts, t-shirts, polo shirts, etc. The shirt 800 may include either long or short sleeves and may include a collar 810 and a male collar magnetic button 820 located on the front of the shirt 800 just below the left collar opening and a corresponding female magnetic button 822 just below the right collar opening. The male button 820 and female button 822 may also be any non-magnetic forms of attachments described above. The shirt 800 may further include a placket with a top piece 826 and a bottom piece 825 that runs at least a portion of the length of the shirt 800, long enough to accommodate a first male magnetic snap 830 below the collar magnetic button 820 and a second magnetic button 840 located below the first male magnetic button 830. Each male magnetic button on the bottom piece 825 may have a corresponding female magnetic button on the top piece 826. The first male magnetic button 830 may have a corresponding female button snap 832 located on the top piece 826. Likewise, the second male magnetic button 840 may have a corresponding female magnetic button (shown snapped together). In some embodiments, the male and female buttons described herein button may be made of any non-magnetic materials as well, so as to facilitate non-magnetic forms of attachment.
As with the previous embodiments, there may also be a intermediate male magnetic button 835 for optimal wear, hidden in between the first male magnetic button 830 and second male button snap 840. The intermediate male magnetic button 835 may be located on bottom piece 825, in between the first male magnetic button 830 and second male magnetic button 840 at approximately the midpoint. The intermediate male magnetic button 835 may have a corresponding intermediate female magnetic button 838. The intermediate male magnetic button 835 and female magnetic button 838 may also be made of other non-magnetic materials to facilitate non-magnetic forms of attachments described above. In some embodiments, the intermediate female magnetic button 838 maybe made of a different material than the male magnetic button 835. In some embodiments, only the intermediate male and female button 835, 838 respectively, may have magnetic properties and not any other buttons on the shirt 800. Further, in some embodiments, the intermediate male magnetic button 835 may be smaller in size than the first male magnetic button 830 and second male magnetic button 840. In other embodiments, the intermediate male magnetic button 835 may be equal to or bigger in size than the first male magnetic button 830 and second male button snap 840. On the top piece 826, there may be a intermediate female magnetic button 838 appropriately sized for the intermediate male magnetic button 835. In some embodiments, the intermediate female magnetic button 838 may be attached only to the inner side (not shown) of the top piece 826 and therefore its mode of attachment such as stitching, sticking, etc., is not visible from the upper surface of the top piece 826. In some embodiments, the intermediate female magnetic button 838 may be attached to the top piece 826 in a way that its mode of stitching may be visible from the upper surface of the top piece 826. In some embodiments, the intermediate male magnetic button 835 may be located on the inner side of the top piece 826 and the corresponding female magnetic button 838 may be on located on the bottom piece 825. In some embodiments, the intermediate male magnetic button 835 may be stitched only on the inner side of the top piece 826 such that its mode of attachment (not shown) is not visible through the outer side of the top piece 826. In other embodiments, the intermediate male magnetic button 835 may be attached to the top piece 826 in a way that its mode of attachment (not shown) appears on the outer side of the top piece 826. In some embodiments, there may be a hidden strip (not shown in figure) made of any material such as cotton, denim, etc., between the inner side and outer side of the top piece 826. The intermediate male magnetic button 835 or the corresponding intermediate female button snap 838 may be attached to the inner side of the top piece 826 and to the hidden strip to provide more support. The intermediate male magnetic button 835 or the corresponding female magnetic button 838 may be attached to the bottom piece 825 or the top piece 826 by any magnetic, non-magnetic form of attachment such as sowing, sticking, Velcro, stapling, etc., or a combination of both magnetic and non-magnetic forms of attachments. The hidden strip also prevents the form of attachment of the intermediate male magnetic button 835 or corresponding intermediate female magnetic button 838 from being visible from the outer side of the top piece 826. The hidden strip is not attached outside the inner and outer side of the top piece 826 because such an attachment results in potential separation between the top piece 826 and the bottom piece 825. In some embodiments, there may be no hidden strip because unlike regular buttons, magnetic buttons have two separate pieces the male and female part that need to be attached to the fabric providing extra bulk to the magnetic buttons compared to regular buttons. Additionally, unlike regular buttons, magnetic buttons do not need any room behind them so the magnetic buttons provide for a tighter look with minimal gap. As explained above, in such an embodiment, the intermediate magnetic button may be attached to the top piece 826 and bottom piece 825 in a way that it only passes through the inner side or outer side of the top piece 826 and/or the bottom piece 825 whereas the regular magnetic buttons pass through both the inner and outer side or the top piece 826 and bottom piece 825. In some embodiments, the intermediate male magnetic button 835 and/or intermediate female magnetic button 838 may be hidden in their respective plackets. In some embodiments, all or some of the regular male magnetic button, such as 830 and 840 and/or the collar magnetic button 820 may be replaced with buttons, Velcro, or any other means of engaging the top piece 826 and bottom piece 825; and the corresponding female button snaps, such as 838, 822, etc., may also be replaced with appropriate means of engaging the top piece 825 and bottom piece 826. In some embodiments, the intermediate male and female magnetic buttons 835, 838, respectively, may be of any shape and size, including but not limited to simple round discs. In some embodiments, the intermediate male and female magnetic buttons 835, 838 respectively, may be hidden beneath the layers of fabric such that they are not visible at all. In some embodiments, the intermediate male and female magnetic buttons 835, 838, respectively, may be different to the other buttons on the shirt 800 in shape, size, function, etc.
The embodiments described in detail above are considered novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to the operation of at least one aspect of the invention and to the achievement of the above described objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification: structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus, if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word or words describing the element.
The definitions of the words or drawing elements described herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense, it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements described and its various embodiments or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.
Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential ideas.
The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here, that the named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter is what is intended to be patented.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shirt having a collar, the shirt having a length, comprising:

a placket with a top piece and bottom piece extending at least a portion of the length of the shirt;

wherein the bottom piece comprises an attached collar male button, an attached first male button spaced apart from the collar male button and below the collar male button, and an attached second male button spaced apart from the first male button and below the first male button, wherein the collar male button, first male button, and second male button are substantially the same size;

wherein the bottom piece further comprises at least one intermediate male magnetic button located in between the first and second male button; and

wherein the top piece substantially overlays the bottom piece when worn, wherein the top piece defines a first female button that corresponds to the first male button and a second female button that corresponds to the second male button,

wherein the top piece further comprises an intermediate female magnetic button to receive the at least one intermediate male magnetic button; and

wherein the intermediate female magnetic button is affixed to an inner side of the top piece.

2. The shirt of claim 1, wherein the at least one intermediate male magnetic button is located at an approximate midpoint between the first and second male buttons.

3. The shirt of claim 1, wherein the least one intermediate male magnetic button and the corresponding intermediate female button snap is hidden within a fabric of the shirt.