US3631541A

US3631541A - Necktie-supporting member

Info

Publication number: US3631541A
Application number: US15749A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth J Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-03-02
Filing date: 1970-03-02
Publication date: 1972-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-04

Abstract

A necktie-supporting member has an edge that is disposable adjacent the collar of a shirt and that serves as a fold-defining edge, has a second edge that is spaced from the first edge and that serves as a second fold-defining edge, and has a necktiegripping element that prevents accidental separation of a necktie from the necktie-supporting member. The first edge of the necktie-supporting member is initially directed downwardly and away from the collar of the shirt but is movable inwardly toward the shirt and then upwardly under a portion of the necktie to lie adjacent the collar. The second edge of the necktie-supporting member defines folds in further portions of the necktie as the first edge of the necktie-supporting member is moved inwardly toward the shirt and then upwardly under those further portions of the necktie to lie adjacent the collar of the shirt; and the first edge of the necktie-supporting member defines a fold in the portion of the necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from that first edge.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Kenneth J. Williams 3699 Whispering Wood Drive, Florimnt, Mo. 63031 21 Appl. No. 15,749 [22] Filed Mar. 2,1970 [45] Patented Jan. 4,1972

[54] NECKTIE-SUPPORTING MEMBER 12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 2/153 [51] Int. Cl A4ld 25/08 [50] Field ofSearch 2/150, 151, 153, 154, 152

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 280,694 7/1883 Warner 2/153 1,268,338 6/1918 Forsberg 2/153 2,710,408 6/1955 Lackland... 2/153 3,218,650 11/1965 Less 2/154 3,506,978 4/1970 Santona 2/150 Primary ExaminerPatn'ck D. Lawson Attorney-Kingsland, Rogers, Ezell, Eilers 8L Robbins ABSTRACT: A necktie-supporting member has an edge that is disposable adjacent the collar of a shirt and that serves as a fold-defining edge, has a second edge that is spaced from the first edge and that serves as a second fold-defining edge, and has a necktie-gripping element that prevents accidental separation of a necktie from the necktie-supporting member. The first edge of the necktie-supporting member is initially directed downwardly and away from the collar of the shirt but is movable inwardly toward the shirt and then upwardly under a portion of the necktie to lie adjacent the collar. The second edge of the necktie-supporting member defines folds in further portions of the necktie as the first edge of the necktiesupporting member is moved inwardly toward the shirt and then upwardly under those further portions of the necktie to lie adjacent the collar of the shirt; and the first edge of the necktie-supporting member defines a fold in the portion of the necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from that first edge.

PATENTED JAN 41972 SHEET 1 SF 2 //V/E/V70/? KENNETH J. WILLIAMS WNW . i; W HTTOF/VBS PATENTED JAN 41972 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG.

AWm m R V W W W W m K NECK'ilE-SUIPPORG MEMBER This invention relates to improvements in necktie-supporting members. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in necktie-supporting members which facilitate the folding of neckties in a neat and smooth manner.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a necktie-supporting member which facilitates the folding of neckties in a neat and smooth manner.

Neckties do not perform an essential function and, instead, merely perform an ornamental function. To perform an omamental function, neckties should be neat and smooth in appearance. The present invention provides a necktie-supporting member which facilitates the tying of a necktie so it is neat and smooth in appearance; and it does so by having spaced edges thereon which define smooth folds in the necktie. One of the fold-defining edges of the necktie-supporting member is disposable immediately adjacent the collar of a shirt and defines a fold in the portion of the necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from that edge; and a second fold-defining edge of that necktie-supporting member defines folds in further portions of that necktie as the one edge of the necktie-supporting member is moved into position adjacent the collar of the shirt. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a necktie-supporting member which has one edge that is disposable immediately adjacent the collar of a shirt and that defines a fold in the portion of the necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from that edge, and which has a second edge that defines folds in further portions of that necktie as the one edge of the necktie-supporting member is moved into position adjacent the collar of the shirt.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description, a preferred embodiment of ,thepresent invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for thepurpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and thatthe invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing: 6 I

FlG. lis a perspective'view of one preferred embodiment of necktie-supporting member that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the necktie-supporting member of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3,is a sectional view, through the necktie-supporting member of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in-FIG. I,

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the necktie-supporting member of FIG.' 1 as it appears when inverted, turned so the rear face thereof is exposed, and assembled with a necktie,

FIG. 5 is a sectionalview through the necktie-supporting member of FIG. llandthe necktie of FIG. 4, and it is taken along the plane indicated by theline 5-5 in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing thenecktie-supporting member of FIG. 1 and the necktie of FIG. 4 after that necktiesupporting member hashad the collar-engaging edge thereof moved inwardly toward a shirt and then upwardly under portionsof that ne'cktie todispose that collar-engaging edge close to the collar of that shirt,

FIG. 7 isa sectional view through the necktie-supporting member of FIG. 1 and the necktie of FIG. 4, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 77 in FIG. 6,

FIGXS is'an elevational view showing the necktie of FIG. 6 after the hangingpo'rtion of the wide end of that necktie has been passed outwardly over the collar-engaging edge of the necktie-supporting member and has then been permitted to depend from that collar-engaging edge,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through the necktie-supporting member of FIG. 1 and the necktie of FIG. 4, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 9-9 in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is an elevational view showing the necktie of FIG. 4 as it appears when fully tied, and it also shows a tie chain associated with that necktie, and

FIG. H is a sectional view through the necktie-supporting member of FIG. 1 and the necktie of FIG. 4, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 11-11 in FIG. 10.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 20 generally denotes one embodiment of necktiesupporting member that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. As indicated particularly by FIG. I, the upper edge of that necktie-supporting member is concave so it will be roughly complementary to the neck of the person wearing a necktie supported by that necktie-supporting member. As shown particularly by FIG. 2, the necktie-supporting member 20 is arcuate in plan view. The upper edge 22 of the necktie-supporting member 20 has a notch 24 adjacent the left-hand end thereof, has a notch 26 disposed inwardly of the notch 24, has a notch 30 adjacent the right-hand end thereof, and has a notch 2% disposed inwardly of the notch 30. An opening 32 is provided intermediate the

notches

24 and 26, an opening 34 is disposed inwardly of the notch 26, an opening 38 is provided intermediate the

notches

28 and 30, and an opening 36 is disposed inwardly of the notch 28. Openings d0, 42 and 44 are provided adjacent the lower portion of the left-hand edge of the necktie-supporting member 20; and

openings

46, 48 and 50 are provided adjacent the lower portion of the right-hand edge of that necktie-supporting member. The

openings

32 and 38 are at the same level, the

openings

34 and 36 are at a lower level, the openings 44} and 416 are at a still lower level, the

openings

42 and 48 are at a level below the level of

openings

40 and 46, and the

openings

44 and 50 are at a level immediately adjacent the lower edge 60 of the necktie-supporting member 20. The lower edge 60 is generally concave as shown by FIG. I. A slot 52 is provided in the necktie-supporting member 20 intermediate the level of the

openings

34 and 36 and the level of the

openings

40 and 46, a slot 54 is provided in that necktie-supporting member at about the level of the

openings

40 and 46, and a slot 56 is provided in that necktie-supporting member intermediate the level of the

openings

40 and 46 and the level of the

openings

42 and 48. A hole 58 is provided in the necktie-supporting member 20 intermediate the slot 56 and the lower edge 60.

The necktie-supporting member 20 will preferably be made from a lightweight, inexpensive, water-resistant material which if form-retaining but which can be flexed. Nylon, mylar, and vinyl plastics are particularly suitable for use in making the tie-supporting member. However, if desired, that necktiesupporting member could be from leather, metal, or other materials. The necktie-supporting member 20 could be cut from a flat sheet of thermoplastic material, heated, bent to the curvature shown by FIG. 2 and then cooled. Alternatively that necktie-supporting member could be cut from a plastic tube of the desired radius; or could be formed as an injection molding.

The numeral 62 generally denotes a four-in-hand necku'e of standard and usual configuration; and that necktie is not, per

se, a part of the present invention. The numeral 64 denotes the neck-encircling portion of the necktie 62; and the numeral 66 denotes the portion of the narrow end of the necktie 62 which is threaded forwardly from the rear face of the necktie-supporting member 20 through the slot 56, which is passed along the front surface of that necktie-supporting member, and which is then passed rearwardly through the slot 54, as shown particularly byFlG. 5. The numeral 68 denotes the portion of the wide end of the necktie 62 which is threaded forwardly from the rear face of the necktie-supporting member 22 through the slot 56, which is passed along the front surface of that necktie-supporting member, and which is then passed rearwardly through the slot 52, as shown by FIG. 5. The threaded portion 68 of the wide end of the necktie 62 laps and covers the threaded portion 66 of the narrow end of that necktie, where those threaded portions project outwardly beyond the front face of the necktie-supporting member 20, as shown particularly by FIG. 5. Conversely, the threaded portion 66 of the narrow end of the necktie 62 laps part of the threaded portion of the wide end of that necktie where those threaded portions are disposed adjacent the rear of the necktie-supporting member 20, as shown particularly by FIG.

In assembling the necktie 62 with the necktie-supporting member 20, that necktie-supporting member will initially be set in the position indicated by FIG. 4, wherein the neck-engaging edge 22 is at the bottom, and wherein the rear face of that necktie-supporting member is exposed. Thereafter, the narrow end of the necktie 62 wiil be set with the seam-bearing face thereof facing the concave surface of the necktie-supporting member 26, and then that narrow end will be passed through the slot 52 toward the convex surface of that necktiesupporting member. Thereafter, that narrow end will be moved along the convex surface of the necktie-supporting member 20, will be passed through the slot 56 toward the concave surface of that necktie-supporting member, will be formed into the neck-engaging portion 64, and will then be set with the lower end thereof adjacent the slot 56. At this time, the seam-bearing face of the narrow end of the necktie 62 will confront the seam-free face of the wide end of that necktie; and that wide end will then be pulled far enough away from the convex surface of the necktie-supporting member 20 to facilitate the insertion of the narrow end of the necktie 62 through the slot 56 toward the convex surface of that necktiesupporting member, and also to facilitate the insertion of that narrow end through the slot 54 toward the concave surface of that necktie-supporting member. The narrow end of the necktie 62 will then be moved downwardly to the position indicated by FIG. 4. At such time, the seam-bearing face of the wide end of the necktie 62 will abut the concave surface of the necktie-supporting member 20, and the seam-bearing face of the narrow end of that necktie will confront the unseamed face of the wide end of that necktie.

Once the necktie 62 and the necktie-supporting member 26 have men given the configuration indicated by FIG. 4, the neck-encircling portion 64 of that necktie will be passed downwardly over the head of the user, and will be set in position to encircle the upturned collar of the users shirt. The necktie-supporting member 20 will then be slid upwardly along the narrow end and the wide end of the necktie 62 until the edge 60 is spaced from the user's collar a distance essentially equal to the shortest straight line distance between the

edges

22 and 60 of that necktie-supporting member. Thereafter, the necktie-supporting member 26 will be moved outwardly a short distance away from the front of the user's shirt, and then the edge 22 of that necktie-supporting member wiil be moved inwardly toward that shirt and upwardly beneath the lower ends of the neck-encircling portion 6 3 of the necktie 62 to engage the collar of the user. During that movement of the necktie-supporting member, that necktiesupporting member will rotate 180 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5 about the edge 60 thereof to the position shown in FIG. 7. As that necktie-supporting member is so rotated, the edge 60 will engage the wide end of the necktie 62 to form a folded portion 72 of that wide end; and that folded portion of that wide end will engage the narrow end of that necktie to form a folded portion 70 of that narrow end, all as indicated by FIG. 7. Because the edge 66 is generally concave, it will cause the folded portion 70 of the narrow end of the necktie 62 to incline upwardly from lower left to upper right in FIG. 6, and will cause the folded portion 72 of the wide end of that necktie to incline upwardly from lower right to upper left. The resulting inclinations of those folded portions will resist any tendency of those folded portions to move outwardly and away from each other along that edge.

As the upper edge 22 of the necktie-supporting member is moved toward the collar of the user, the user will cause the neck-encircling portion 64 of the necktie 62 to fit into the notches 24 and if that necktie is of average width. However, if the necktie 62 is unusually wide, the user will dispose the neck-encircling portion 64 thereof in the

notches

26 and 28 of the necktie-supporting member 20. The engagement between the neck-encircling portion 6 3 of the necktie 62 with the

notches

24 and 30 or with the

notches

26 and 28 will help hold the necktie-supporting member 20 in the position indicated by FIGS. 6 and 8. Further, the engagement between the neck-encircling portion 64 of the necktie 62 with the

notches

24 and 30 or with the

notches

26 and 28 will help prevent accidental shifting of that necktie relative to the user's shirt.

After the tie-supporting member 20 has been rotated from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 7, the hanging portion 74 of the narrow end of the necktie 62 will have its un seamed face exposed, and that hanging portion will depend downwardly from the slot 54. The hanging portion 76 of the wide end of the necktie 62 will underlie the hanging portion 74 of the narrow end of that necktie, and it too will have its unseamed face exposed.

Once the necktie-supporting member 20 has been rotated from the position indicated by FIG. 5 to the position indicated by FIG. 7, the user will grasp the hanging portion 76 of the wide end of the necktie 62 and pass it upwardly and outwardly over the edge 22 of that necktie-supporting member, and then permit that hanging portion to depend downwardly from that edge, as shown particularly by FIGS. 8 and 10. As that hanging portion depends downwardly from the edge 22 of the necktiesupporting member 20, it will overlie and largely or completely conceal the folded portion of the narrow end of the necktie 62, and it also will overlie and largely or completely conceal the folded portion 72 of the wide end of that necktie.

Thereafter, the user will fold the foldable portion of his collar down over the major portion of the length of the neck-encircling portion 64 of the necktie 62 to give that collar the configuration indicated by FIG. 10. At such time, the hanging portion 76 of the wide end of the necktie 62 will constitute the major portion of that necktie which is visible. However, small areas of the lower ends of the neck-encircling portion 64 of the necktie 62 will be visible between the upper portion of the hanging portion 76 of the wide end of that necktie and the confronting edges of the collar, as shown particularly by FIG. 10. The edge 60 of the necktie-supporting member 20 will cause the folded

portions

70 and 72, respectively, of the narrow and wide ends of the necktie 62 to be neat and smooth; and the edge 22 will cause the fold 78 in the hanging portion 76 of the wide end of that necktie to be neat and smooth. In this way, the necktie-supporting member 20 enables the user to fold his necktie so it is neat and smooth in appearance.

If, at the time the hanging portion 76 of the wide end of the necktie 62 is moved outwardly over the edge 22 and then downwardly to form the fold 78, that fold is not as close to the users collar as the user desires, the user can grasp the folded

portions

70 and 72, and thus the edge 60 of the necktie-supporting member 20, with one hand and pull downwardly on the hanging portion 74 of the narrow end of that necktie. The resulting relative movement between the threaded portion 66 of the narrow end of the necktie 62 and the necktie-supporting member 20 will permit the fold 78 in the hanging portion 76 of the wide end of that necktie to be moved into as tight an engagement with the collar of the user as the user desires.

If desired, a tie-restraining element 82 can be used with the necktie-supporting member 20. That tie-restraining element can be a continuous chain or, as shown by FIGS. 10 and 11, can have a chain with an ornament intermediate the ends of that chain. A fastener 86, preferably in the form of an openable loop, is provided at one end of the tie-restraining element 82; and a fastener 88, preferably in the form of an openable loop, is provided at the other end of that tie-restraining element. The fastener 86 can be connected to any one of the

openings

32, 34, 40, 42 and 44, and the fastener 88 can be connected to the corresponding opening of the

openings

38, 36, 46, 48 and 50. Where the

fasteners

86 and 88 are in the form of openable loops, those fasteners facilitate ready connecting and disconnecting of the tie-restraining element to and from those penings. That tie-restraining element will add to the ornamentation afforded by the necktie 62.

Where the tie-restraining element 82 is associated with the

openings

32 and 38, it will be closely adjacent to the collar of the user. Where that tie-restraining element is associated with the

openings

34 and 36, it will assume a deeper curve than it will assume when it is associated with the

openings

32 and 38.

Where the tie-restraining element 82 is associated with the openings t0 and 46, it will be spaced further down the hanging portion 76 of the wide end of the necktie 62; and where it is associated, respectively, with the openings t2 and 48 or with the openings 44 and bit, it wili be spaced even further down along the length of that hanging portion. If desired, a tie tack could be used in lieu of, or in addition to, the tie-restraining element 82.

To remove the necktie 62, the user will pass the hanging portion 76 of the wide end of that necktie inwardly over the edge 22 of the necktie-supporting member 20 and then downwardly to the position indicated by FIG. 6. Thereafter, the user will free the notches 2d and 30 or the

notches

26 and 28 from the neck-encircling portion M of the necktie 62, and will rotate the necktie-supporting member 20 from the position shown by FIG. '7 to the position shown by PEG. 5. At such time, the user can slip the neck-encircling portion 641 of the necktie 62 upwardly over his head. The necktie 62 and the necktie-supporting member 20 can then be supported from a rack or book by having the neck-encircling portion 643 depend from that hook or rack. If desired, the necktie 62 and the necktie-supporting member 20 could be supported by telescoping the hole 58 in that necktie-supporting member over a pin or book. That hole also is useful in supporting the necktiesupporting member 20 whenever that necktie-supporting member is separated from a necktie.

The

slots

52, and 54 and 56 are desirable; but it would be possible to eliminate the slot 52. Where that was done, the threaded

portions

66 and 68, respectively, of the narrow and wide ends of the necktie 62 would both pass through the slot 56 and the slot 54* in the manner in which the threaded portion 66 is shown passing through those slots. Further, if desired, all of the

slots

52, 54 and 56 could be eliminated. In that event, a bar or rod, which was solidly secured at both of its ends to the rear of the necktie-supporting member 20, could be used to provide frictional resistance to accidental movement of the wide and narrow ends of a necktie relative to that necktie-supporting member. Alternatively, if desired, the

slots

52, 54 and 56 could be repiaced by a bar or rod which was fixedly secured at one end thereof to the necktie-supporting member 20 and which had the other end thereof biased toward the rear surface of that necktie-supporting member. Such a resiliently biased bar or rod would provide the frictional resistance which would prevent accidental shifting of the necktie 62 relative to the necktie-supporting member 20.

Whereas the drawing-and accompanying description have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

E. A necktie-supporting member which has an upper edge, a lower edge, and necktie-securing means disposed between said upper edge and said lower edge that acts against a portion of a necktie and thereby prevents accidental separation of said necktie from said necktie-supporting member, said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member being generally concave in elevation and in plan, said necktiesupporting member having necktie-engaging surfaces adjacent the opposite ends of the upper portion thereof, said lower edge of said necktiesupporting member having further necktie-engaging surfaces thereon, the first said necktie-engaging surfaces being disposed outwardly and upwardly of said further necktie-engaging surfaces, whereby one portion of a necktie can incline downwardly in one direction over the front of said necktiesupporting member from one of said first said necktie-engaging surfaces to one of said further necktie-engaging surfaces and then be folded upwardly around said one further necktieengaging surface to pass upwardly along the rear of said necktie-supporting member while a second portion of said necktie inclines downwardly in the opposite direction over said front of said necktie-supporting member from the other of said first said necktie-engaging surfaces to the other of said further necktie-engaging surfaces and then is folded upwardly around other further necktie-engaging surface to pass upwardly along said rear of said necktie-supporting member, said further necktie-engaging surfaces resisting lateral movement of the folds at the lower ends of said portions of said necktie outwardly along said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member, said upper edge being substantially longer than said lower edge, said upper edge being disposable immediately adjacent the collar of a shirt and defining a fold in a third portion of said along said front of said necktie-supporting member to overlie the lower ends of said one and said second portions of said necktie. I

2. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said upper edge of said necktiesupporting member and the opposite ends of said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member coact to generally define a space of trapezoidal configuration which has the sides thereof converging downwardly and inwardly and which has the long edge thereof adjacent the top thereof.

3. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member has the ends thereof disposed substantial distances above the level of the midpoint of said upper edge, whereby said ends of said upper edge will underlie the front face of the collar and will be immediately adjacent the fold in said coilar to stabilize the position of said necktie-supporting member relative to said collar.

d. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first said necktie-engaging surfaces extend rearwardly of the midpoint of said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member and generally incline toward the rear of the user's neck, and wherein said first said necktie-engaging surfaces are adapted to engage the portion of the necktie which forms a loop around the rear of the user's neck to receive support from said loop, and thereby stabilize said necktie-supporting member relative to said collar.

5. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said necktie-securing means include a plurality of short, generally horizontal slots in said necktie-supporting member which receive and frictionally engage portions of said necktie.

6. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said necktie-securing means includes a plurality of generally horizontal slots in said necktie-supporting member, each of said generally horizontal slots having a length less than one-half of the maximum width of said necktie-supporting member, the uppermost of said generally horizontal slots being spaced below said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member a distance several times greater than the width of said uppermost generally horizontal slot, the lowermost of said generally horizontal slots being spaced above said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member a distance several times greater than the width of said lowermost generally horizontal slot.

7. A necktie-supporting member and, a necktie supported thereon wherein said necktie-supporting member has an upper edge, a lower edge, and necktie-securing means intermediate said upper and lower edges, wherein a portion of said necktie is held by said necktie-securing means and extends downwardly along the rear of said necktie-supporting member and is folded around one end of said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member and is passed upwardly along the front surface of said necktie-supporting member so it inclines upwardly and laterally away from the vertical centerline of said necktie-supporting member and extends beyond one end of said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member to form part of a neck-encircling loop, wherein a further portion of said necktie is held by said necktie-securing means and extends downwardly along the rear of said necktie-supporting member and is folded forwardly around the other end of said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member and is passed upwardly along the front surface of said necktie-supporting member so it inclines upwardly and laterally in the opposite direction from the vertical centerline of said necktie-supporting member and extends beyond the other end of said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member to form a further part of said neck-encircling loop, and wherein a third portion of said necktie extends upwardly along the rear of said necktiesupporting member and is folded forwardly over the center portion of said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member and then depends downwardly along said front of said necktiesupporting member and overlies and conceals the lower areas of those lengths of the first said and said further portions of said necktie which are folded around said ends of said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member.

8. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim '7 wherein said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member is generally concave to resist accidental separation from said lower edge of those lengths of said first and said further portions of said necktie which are folded around said ends of said lower edge, and wherein said necktie-supporting member has spaced necktie-engaging surfaces that coact with said necktie to resist shifting of said necktie and of said necktie-supmrting member relative to said collar of said shirt.

9. A necktie-supporting member and a necktie wherein said necktie-supporting member has one edge that is disposable immediately adjacent the collar of a shirt and that serves as a fold-defining edge, has a second edge that is spaced from said one edge and that serves as a second fold-defining edge, and has a necktie-securing mems disposed between said one edge and said second edge that bears against a portion of said necktie and prevents accidental separation of said necktie from said necktie-supporting member, said necktie-supporting member initially having said one edge thereof directed downwardly and away from said collar of said shirt but said one edge of said necktie-supporting member being movable inwardly toward said shirt and then upwardly under a further portion of said necktie to lie adjacent said collar of said shirt, said suond edge of said necktie-supporting member defining at least one fold in said necktie as said one edge of said necktie-supporting member is moved inwardly toward said shirt and then upwardly under said further portion of said necktie to lie adjacent said collar of said shirt, said one edge of said necktie-supporting member defining a fold in a portion of said necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from sa d one edge, said one edge of said necktiesupporting member having a means thereon that receives a portion of said necktie which extends upwardly and rearwardly from one end of said one edge of said necktie-supporting member to help define a neck-encircling loop and that coacts with said portion of said necktie to resist shifting of said necktie and of said necktie-supporting member relative to said collar of said shirt, and said one edge of said necktie-supporting member having a second means thereon that receives a further portion of said necktie which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the opposite end of said one edge of said necktie-supporting member to complete said neck-encircling loop and that coacts with said further portion of said necktie to resist shifting of said necktie and of said necktie-supporting member relative to said collar of said shirt.

lit). A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim I wherein said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member is generally concave so the opposite ends of said lower edge extend downwardly below the level of the midpoint of said lower edge.

ii. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said necktie-supporting member has spaced openings therein that releasably receive the ends of a tie-restraining element, said openings being disposed adjacent the opposite sides of said necktie-supporting member to enable said tie-restraining member to overlie and restrain said necktie without wrinkiing said necktie.

32. A necktie-supporting member which has one edge that is disposable immediatelyadjacent the collar of a shirt and that serves as a fold-defining edge, which has a second edge that is spaced from said one edge and that serves as a second fold-defining edge, which has a necktie-holding means thereon that holds a portion of a necktie and prevents accidental separation of said necktie from said necktie-supporting member, and a necktie mounted on said necktie-supporting member, one end of said second edge of said necktie-supporting member defining a first fold in portion of said necktie which extends forwardly under said one end of said second edge and then extends upwardly along the front of said necktie-supporting member toward the collar of said shirt in a direction which inclines upwardly and away from the vertical centerline of said necktie-supporting member, and the other end of said second edge of said necktie-supporting member defining a second fold in another portion of said necktie which extends forwardly under said other end of said second edge and then extends upwardly along the front of said necktie-supporting member toward the collar of said shirt in a direction which inclines upwardly in the opposite direction from the vertical centerline of said necktie-supporting member, said one edge of said necktie-supporting member defining a fold in third portion of said necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from said one edge, said third portion of said necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from said one edge of said necktie-supporting member overlying at least part of each of said folds which are defined by said ends of said second edge of said necktie-supporting member.

2 i F i

Claims

1. A necktie-supporting member which has an upper edge, a lower edge, and necktie-securing means disposed between said upper edge and said lower edge that acts against a portion of a necktie and thereby prevents accidental separation of said necktie from said necktie-supporting member, said upper edge of said necktiesupporting member being generally concave in elevation and in plan, said necktie-supporting member having necktie-engaging surfaces adjacent the opposite ends of the upper portion thereof, said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member having further necktie-engaging surfaces thereon, the first said necktieengaging surfaces being disposed outwardly and upwardly of said further necktie-engaging surfaces, whereby one portion of a necktie can incline downwardly in one direction over the front of said necktie-supporting member from one of said first said necktie-engaging surfaces to one of said further necktie-engaging surfaces and then be folded upwardly around said one further necktie-engaging surface to pass upwardly along the rear of said necktie-supporting member while a second portion of said necktie inclines downwardly in the opposite direction over said front of said necktie-supporting member from the other of said first said necktie-engaging surfaces to the other of said further necktieengaging surfaces and then is folded upwardly around said other further necktie-engaging surface to pass upwardly along said rear of said necktie-supporting member, said further necktie-engaging surfaces resisting lateral movement of the folds at the lower ends of said portions of said necktie outwardly along said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member, said upper edge being substantially longer than said lower edge, said upper edge being disposable immediately adjacent the collar of a shirt and defining a fold in a third portion of said necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends freely downwardly from said upper edge along said front of said necktie-supporting member to overlie the lower ends of said one and said second portions of said necktie.

2. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member and the opposite ends of said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member coact to generally define a space of trapezoidal configuration which has the sides thereof converging downwardly and inwardly and which has the long edge thereof adjacent the top thereof.

3. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member has the ends thereof disposed substantial distances above the level of the midpoint of said upper edge, whereby said ends of said upper edge will underlie the front face of the collar and will be immediately adjacent the fold in said collar to stabilize the position of said necktie-supporting member relative to said collar.

4. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first said necktie-engaging surfaces extend rearwardly of the midpoint of said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member and generally incline toward the rear of the user''s neck, and wherein said first said necktie-engaging surfaces are adapted to engage the portion of the necktie which forms a loop around the rear of the user''s neck to receive support from said loop, and thereby stabilize said necktie-supporting member relative to said collar.

7. A necktie-supporting member and a necktie supported thereon wherein said necktie-supporting member has an upper edge, a lower edge, and necktie-securing means intermediate said upper and lower edges, wherein a portion of said necktie is held by said necktie-securing means and extends downwardly along the rear of said necktie-supporting member and is folded around one end of said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member and is passed upwardly along the front surface of said necktie-supporting member so it inclines upwardly and laterally away from the vertical centerline of said necktie-supporting member and extends beyond one end of said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member to form part of a neck-encircling loop, wherein a further portion of said necktie is held by said necktie-securing means and extends downwardly along the rear of said necktie-supporting member and is folded forwardly around the other end of said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member and is passed upwardly along the front surface of said necktie-supporting member so it inclines upwardly and laterally in the opposite direction from the vertical centerline of said necktie-supporting member and extends beyond the other end of said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member to form a further part of said neck-encircling loop, and wherein a third portion of said necktie extends upwardly along the rear of said necktie-supporting member and is folded forwardly over the center portion of said upper edge of said necktie-supporting member and then depends downwardly along said front of said necktie-supporting member and overlies and conceals the lower areas of those leNgths of the first said and said further portions of said necktie which are folded around said ends of said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member.

8. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 7 wherein said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member is generally concave to resist accidental separation from said lower edge of those lengths of said first and said further portions of said necktie which are folded around said ends of said lower edge, and wherein said necktie-supporting member has spaced necktie-engaging surfaces that coact with said necktie to resist shifting of said necktie and of said necktie-supporting member relative to said collar of said shirt.

9. A necktie-supporting member and a necktie wherein said necktie-supporting member has one edge that is disposable immediately adjacent the collar of a shirt and that serves as a fold-defining edge, has a second edge that is spaced from said one edge and that serves as a second fold-defining edge, and has a necktie-securing means disposed between said one edge and said second edge that bears against a portion of said necktie and prevents accidental separation of said necktie from said necktie-supporting member, said necktie-supporting member initially having said one edge thereof directed downwardly and away from said collar of said shirt but said one edge of said necktie-supporting member being movable inwardly toward said shirt and then upwardly under a further portion of said necktie to lie adjacent said collar of said shirt, said second edge of said necktie-supporting member defining at least one fold in said necktie as said one edge of said necktie-supporting member is moved inwardly toward said shirt and then upwardly under said further portion of said necktie to lie adjacent said collar of said shirt, said one edge of said necktie-supporting member defining a fold in a portion of said necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from said one edge, said one edge of said necktie-supporting member having a means thereon that receives a portion of said necktie which extends upwardly and rearwardly from one end of said one edge of said necktie-supporting member to help define a neck-encircling loop and that coacts with said portion of said necktie to resist shifting of said necktie and of said necktie-supporting member relative to said collar of said shirt, and said one edge of said necktie-supporting member having a second means thereon that receives a further portion of said necktie which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the opposite end of said one edge of said necktie-supporting member to complete said neck-encircling loop and that coacts with said further portion of said necktie to resist shifting of said necktie and of said necktie-supporting member relative to said collar of said shirt.

10. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lower edge of said necktie-supporting member is generally concave so the opposite ends of said lower edge extend downwardly below the level of the midpoint of said lower edge.

11. A necktie-supporting member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said necktie-supporting member has spaced openings therein that releasably receive the ends of a tie-restraining element, said openings being disposed adjacent the opposite sides of said necktie-supporting member to enable said tie-restraining member to overlie and restrain said necktie without wrinkling said necktie.

12. A necktie-supporting member which has one edge that is disposable immediately adjacent the collar of a shirt and that serves as a fold-defining edge, which has a second edge that is spaced from said one edge and that serves as a second fold-defining edge, which has a necktie-holding means thereon that holds a portion of a necktie and prevents accidental separation of said necktie from said necktie-supporting member, and a necktie mounted on said necktie-supporting member, one end of said second edge of said necktie-supporting member defining a fiRst fold in portion of said necktie which extends forwardly under said one end of said second edge and then extends upwardly along the front of said necktie-supporting member toward the collar of said shirt in a direction which inclines upwardly and away from the vertical centerline of said necktie-supporting member, and the other end of said second edge of said necktie-supporting member defining a second fold in another portion of said necktie which extends forwardly under said other end of said second edge and then extends upwardly along the front of said necktie-supporting member toward the collar of said shirt in a direction which inclines upwardly in the opposite direction from the vertical centerline of said necktie-supporting member, said one edge of said necktie-supporting member defining a fold in third portion of said necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from said one edge, said third portion of said necktie which extends outwardly over and then depends downwardly from said one edge of said necktie-supporting member overlying at least part of each of said folds which are defined by said ends of said second edge of said necktie-supporting member.