US2149192A

US2149192A - Collar supporting means

Info

Publication number: US2149192A
Application number: US145665A
Authority: US
Inventors: James W Steele
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-06-01
Filing date: 1937-06-01
Publication date: 1939-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-28

Description

Feb. 28, 1939. J. w. STEELE COLLAR, SUPPORTING MEANS Filed June 1, 1937 INVENTOR: -.f.V1 Stee/e, 1| u A TTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,149,192. COLLAR SUPPORTING MEANS James W. Steele, Kansas City,-Mo.

Application June ,1, 1937, Serial No. 145,665

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to collar supporting devices for use by launderies and like establishments as a temporary means for supporting and reinforcing the collars of garments, and aims to provide an improved supporting device of this character for preserving the proper outline or contour of the collars from the time they are finished or laundered until they are delivered to the customer.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide an improved supporting device which will serve to embrace and reinforce the collar by a bracing engagement'against both. the inner and outer faces of the neckband of the collar and also have provision for gripping engagement with the upper corners of the collar at the meeting ends of the same so as to hold said front corners securely in position while also concealing the gap between the collar ends.

As one practical and economical form of device embodying the invention I have devised a support which may be cut inexpensively from suitable sheet material to provide portions for appropriate supporting engagement with the inner and outer faces of the neckband-of the collar, and also provide such a construction of the connection between the inner and outer portions of the support as to constitute a collar retaining means for retaining engagement with the upper front corners of the collar whereby these and the meeting endsof the collar are held firmly in position, with a neat and attractive appearance being thus imparted to the finished shirt.

With the foregoing general object in view the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a suitable form of embodiment of the present improvements, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing-- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a shirt having its collar portion fitted with a collar support constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the improved collar supporting device;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank stamped as required for producing the improved form of collar support; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view.

Referring now to thedrawing in detail, the improved device is illustrated as constructed from suitable flexible material, such as a fair grade of cardboard, which is appropriately stamped and slit to produce collar neckband engaging portions, including a main rear portion 4 for embracing the inside face of the neckband portion 5 of the collar 6, and a front portion 1 for engaging the outer face of said neckband, and also a connecting portion 8 between said front and rear portions at the meeting ends of the collar.

The provision of such front and rear portions, with a flexible connecting portion, of cardboard or like material, is in the main similar to the form of support shown in my Patent No. 1,879,918, dated September 27, 1932.

In the present construction, however, the outline of each of the cuts or slits l0 (Figure 3) is such as to produce curved edges l2 and 12' which in practice are not exact continuations of the same curve, but preferably segments of arcs from different centers, so that while the edges l2 extend substantially flush with the crease or fold line H of the collar, when the device is inserted as illustrated in Figure 1 (the part 4 being a little wider than the part I for this purpose), the edges IQ of the part 1 coming between the collar folds and being curved downward instead of upward as is the case with the edges l2, present two high points l5 and Hi coming into engagement with said fold line l4. Moreover, the connecting portion 8 between the parts 4 and l is creased or scored along a substantially straight line I! connecting the inner ends of the slits l0; and these cuts or slits l0 terminate in short angular cuts l8 to form approximately triangular wings or tabs 20 for projecting over the corresponding upper corners of the collar at its meeting ends, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

The method of using the improved collar support will be readily understood by reference to Figure 1, the device being inserted in position by applying the same to the collar portion of the garment so as to insert the ends of the portion 1 beneath the points of the collar and then thrusting the said portion 1 up far enough between the collar folds to cause its upper edges l2 to conform approximately with the crease or fold line H, while at the same time bringing the wings or tabs 20 to the outside of the collar, which results in the front edges of the collar points extending through the horizontal portions of the angular cuts l8, as shown. In this connection it may also be stated that the use of the device contemplates the need of no other fastening means at the meeting ends of the collar.

The rear collar supporting portion 1 is then simply turned back inside the collar, as permitted by the flexible connecting portion I and its score line H, thereby bringingsaid portion 4 into engagement with the inner face of the neckband portion 5 of the collar, and leaving the tabs 20 outside the collar and in position for retaining engagement with the upper corners of the meeting ends of the collar.

In this connection it may be explained that the horizontal portions of the angular cuts ll are of such length as to span the average width of the thickened edge portion 22 of the collar, as represented by the distance between the collar edge and the adjacent seam 24; this therefore locates the points IS in position for snug engagement inside the fold or crease line H and against said thickened portions 22, which thereby form shoulders for abutting engagement with said points i5. Hence, when the part 4 is turned back inside the collar, and thereby squeezes the wing or tab elements 20 against the outside of the upper collar corners, a combined gripping and locking action is produced by the gripping of said tabs 20 against said collar corners and thus in turn retaining the points IS in their shouldered and locking relation to the edges of said thickened portions, whereby the front portions of the collar are securely held in their proper shape after finishing. This moreover imparts a neat and trim appearance to the front of the collar, with the meeting end portions.of the neckband fold of the collar concealed from view. With the improved support thus assembled, as shown, the shirt can be subjected to all the necessary handling following the finishing operation without any serious likelihood of the support becoming dilqdged or releasing its grip on the ends of the collar.

It will therefore be apparent that I have provided a practical and eflicient device having desirable features of improvement over the construction shown in my previously patented device above referred to, and having all the collar reinforcing advantages aiforded by said patent, i. e., double supporting means for bracing and reiniorcing engagement with both the outer and inner faces of the neckband portion of the coi lar. In addition, however, the construction as herein described provides a one-piece device including shoulders or abutting means for effective retaining engagement with the upper front corners of the collar by the novel method above explained, besides serving the further function of closing the gap between the upper collar corners and concealing the meeting end portions of the neckband fold-while holding all of the parts together in proper finished relation after the device has been applied in position by the operator. The device is moreover convenient for use and adapted, with very little experience, to be applied into its proper position by the operator as she completes the finishing operation on the garment.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred form of construction for embodying the proposed features of improvement, modifications are of course possible within the essential scope of the invention; as, for example, the supporting member 1 may under some circumstances be employed independently of the supporting member 4 and ;the.. latter member omitted entirely with a corresponding saving of material in cases where the laundry operator does not require the double form of support; accordingly, I desire to be understood as expressly reserving the right to make whatever changes or modifications may be fairly deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collar supporting device for collar-attached garments comprising, a collar supporting member embracing the inner neck-engaging face of the neck fold of the collar, a second supporting and holding member for insertion between the folds of the collar and connected with said first member at the front ends of the collar, the upper edge portion of said second member being formed with shoulders seated in the fold line of the collar for abutting engagement inside the thickened portions of the seam lines along the front edges of the collar, and wing or tab elements forming a part of the connection between said members and continuously connected throughout their upper edges with the upper edge 01' said first member, said wing or tab elements extending in position for holding the upper front corners of the collar in retained engagement against said shoulders.

2. Collar supporting and holding means for collar-attached garments comprising, a collar supporting and holding member for insertion between the inner and outer folds of the collar and having its upper edge portion formed with shoulders spaced apart a distance just suflicient to span the distance between the seam lines along the front edges of the collar for abutting engagement against the edges of the thickened seam portions adjacent to said front collar edges and thereby preventing any spreading movement of said edges, and wing or tab elements extending in position for holding the upper front corners of the collar in retained engagement against said shoulders.

3. Collar supporting and holding means, comprising an elongated member having slots extending longitudinally thereof and dividing said member into two sections connected together by a central interconnecting portion of a length sufficient to extend partly over the front ends of the outer collar fold, one of said sections having slots on each side of said interconnecting portion and in angular relation to said first slots for providing corners on one of the sections adapted to be slid between the collar folds into contact with the junction or fold line of the collar, the other section of said elongated member adapted to be folded down inside the collar and thereby cause said interconnecting portion to press the outer collar fold into intimate binding engagement with said corners of said first section. V

4. Collar supporting and holding means for collar-attached garments, comprising an elongated member for insertion between the inner and outer folds of the collar and having pointed corner elements for engagement with the crease or told line between said inner and outer folds of the collar, and a second elongated member adapted to be folded down inside the collar and secured to said first member by a central interconnecting portion extending partly over the front ends of the outer collar fold and having a length suflicient to slightly more thampan the distance between the seam lines, of the-front edges of the collar, whereby the folding of said second member down inside the collar will pro duce a binding or gripping action between said interconnecting portion and said corner elements of said first member.

JAMES W. STEELE.