WO1993000835A1

WO1993000835A1 - Improved apparatus for restraining a necktie and method for using the same

Info

Publication number: WO1993000835A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/005506
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vincent J. Pileggi
Original assignee: Pileggi Vincent J
Priority date: 1991-07-02
Filing date: 1992-06-30
Publication date: 1993-01-21
Also published as: AU2271492A

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an apparatus (28) and method for restraining dangling sections (20 and 22) of a necktie (16). The apparatus of the present invention comprises a first section (30) which attaches to the back (26) of a necktie (16) and a second section (32) which slides along the first section (30) and which attaches to a button (14) on the front of the wearer's shirt (10). The present invention is easily implemented to keep the tie (16) securely restrained, while automatically adjusting to compensate for changes in the amount of slack on the necktie (16).

Description

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR RESTRAINING A NECKTIE AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to means and methods for positioning and securing a necktie. More particularly, the present invention provides an improved apparatus and method to anchor a four-in-hand necktie to a shirt so that it remains properly restrained and centered when adorned.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional "four-in-hand" necktie is tied about the neck with a knot at a shirt collar and generally has a outward facing section passing down the shirt front to conceal shirt buttons and a somewhat narrower tail section which hangs down from the knot and is concealed by the outward facing section. Normally, a wearer might use one of a number of possible methods to control a tie, including: letting both the outward section and the tail section hang free; passing the tail section through a manufacturer's label regularly provided on the back of the outward facing section so that the two sections of the tie hang as a unit; or attaching the two sections to the shirt by use of various forms of jewelry, such as a tie-tack, a tie bar or a tie pin to keep the tie in place.

The problem with the non-restrained methods of wearing a tie mentioned above is that the tie sections hang free. This not only regularly presents disarray in appearance, but the tie sections frequently interfere with work, are soiled or ruined by dragging through food or other staining material, and may be quite hazardous if accidently caught in a doorway or machinery.

The use of jewelry holding devices is common, but also suffers from a number of drawbacks. First, these devices often pass in and out of favor depending on preference and fashion trends. Second, they are often expensive and regularly cause damage to the fabric by creating permanent holes, creases, and blemishes in the tie. Finally, these jewelry devices anchor the tie to the shirt and often do not permit vertical movement of the tie relative to the shirt. Torso movements of the wearer cause the anchored tie to pull on the knot causing displacement of the knot and general disarray so as not to present an elegant appearance.

Not surprisingly, a number of solutions have been proposed to attempt to avoid the above problems, but none is believed wholly satisfactory. U.S. Patent No. 4,920,579 to Swain describes an apparatus to restrain necktie tails of a four-in-hand tie at the front of the shirt by relying on the manufacturer's sewn-in-place label on the back of the outward facing section and a flat plastic loop threaded through that label and attached to buttons on the shirt front. The plastic loop is somewhat stiff and has button holes at each end with a fixed distance between them. This arrangement is believed to have numerous drawbacks, including that it is awkward to employ— requiring keeping track of the loop, re¬ positioning the loop each time a new tie is worn, and often re- tying of the tie to center the device properly. Further, this device relies on the distance between buttons fixed by the manufacturer of the shirt which is not always the same from shirt to shirt. Moreover, this device may cause tie damage through constant pulling on the manufacturer's label—a use for which the label is not designed. Finally, the stiff plastic loop may prove uncomfortable to wear.

Another approach is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,827,576 to Prince, Jr. There a button-slot neck tie fastener is permanently affixed to the manufacturer's label and a stiff portion having button slots is affixed to a shirt button. Apparently the tie's vertical movement relative to the shirt is permitted by the slot engaging the button. This device is believed to suffer from most of the same drawbacks as the Swain device, and may have the additional problem of possibly wearing out the shirt front where it contacts the device and the button stitching—thus possibly damaging both the tie and the shirt.

Still another solution to keeping a conventional tie in proper position is disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 4,972,523 to Begg. Begg contemplates the use of complementary Velcro®-type loop-and-hook material, with a first element thereof on the back of the outward facing section and a second element thereof on a loop around the tail section. The second element has a slot on its opposite side for engagement with a shirt button. The two hook-and-loop elements engage each other to hold the tie in position and the tail section of the tie is threaded through the loop. Although this arrangement solves some of the problems presented by the Swain and Prince devices, its separate elements are believed to be somewhat awkward to use and the loop element may be prone to loss. More importantly, this design does not allow vertical movement of the tie relative to the shirt to follow movement of the torso of the wearer—leading to some of the same presentation problems as conventional jewelry restraining devices.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a necktie securing device and method which provides the best presentation of the necktie at all times.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a necktie securing device and method which in no way jeopardizes a wearer's shirt or tie, is simple to implement, and is at all times comfortable to use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a necktie securing device and method which is readily centered on a wearer's shirt, without regard to the precise placement of shirt buttons and without the need to align the necktie accurately relative to the securing device.

These and other objects of the present invention will become evident from review of the following specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides improved apparatus and method for anchoring dangling sections of a necktie to a shirt.

In the preferred embodiment, the invention employs a vertical member attached at its top and bottom to a front section of the tie, and a horizontal member which surrounds the vertical member and slides between the vertical member's top and bottom positions. The horizontal member includes one or more openings in it which attach to buttons on the shirt.

In operation, once the necktie is tied in a conventional manner, the horizontal member is easily slid into a position on the vertical member which aligns an opening with a button on the shirt. The button is then secured within the opening to provide a anchor for the tie. The concealed tail section of the tie may be inserted through the horizontal member to keep it safely secure.

The present invention provides a simple yet extremely secure anchor for a tie which presents the best possible appearance at all times while keeping the tie clean, safe and out of harm's way. The present invention is completely concealed when worn and is noticeable to neither the wearer nor others. In fact, the construction of the apparatus of the present invention automatically adjusts the position of the tie relative to a wearer's body and shirt, and thus avoids the binding and misalignment of the tie often encountered with tie tacks and similar devices when a wearer is in a seated position. Moreover, since the present invention may be employed with virtually any dress shirt, with no modification of the shirt required, the present invention may be provided as a standard accessory on all four-in-hand neckties. Finally, the present invention may be constructed from materials which will in no way increase tie or shirt wear through usage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The operation of the present invention should become apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the present invention shown attached to a conventional necktie;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the present invention attached to a necktie, including showing a horizontal member of the present invention in a first position and a second position (in phantom), and a tail section of the necktie shown in phantom.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 2, adding a representation of the present invention in relative orientation with a shirt and shirt button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improved apparatus and method for securing a necktie to a shirt to prevent it from being dislodged from a centered position.

Shown in Figure 1 is a conventional shirt 10 having a collar 12 and a row of buttons 14 down its center. As is known, a conventional four-in-hand tie 16 is tied around the collar 12 and fashioned into a slip knot 18 which is pulled snugly around the a wearer's neck (not shown). Once tied, the tie 16 generally leaves two sections hanging down from the knot 18—an outward facing section 20, and a normally concealed tail section 22. As shown, the outward facing section 20 has both a front 24 and a back 26. Necktie securing apparatus 28 of the present invention is shown attached to the back 26 of the outward facing section 20 and surrounding the tail section 22.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus 28 of the present invention comprises a vertical member 30, which is attached to the back 26 of the outward facing section 20, and a horizontal member 32. The vertical member 30 is preferably a length of flexible fabric material with a top end 34 and a bottom end 36. The fabric may be attached to the back 26 through any convenient means, including with sewing, glue or other adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, pin or snap fasteners, or any other known fastening means. The preferred attachment method is shown in Figure 2, where the length of fabric is sewn to the back 26 only at its top and bottom ends 34, 36.

The horizontal member 32 is then attached to the vertical member 30 in a manner which permits the horizontal member 32 to be adjusted into various positions along the vertical member 30. As is shown in Figure 2, preferably the horizontal member 32 is constructed out of a length of material which is attached to itself around the vertical member 30, such as through sewing 37, adhesive, or other fastening means. In this manner, the horizontal member 32 may be moved to any position between the ends 34, 36. This may alternatively entail a semi-rigid C-shaped horizontal member 32 which partially surrounds the vertical member so to prevent it from falling off. An example of the mobility of the present invention is shown in Figure 2, where the horizontal member 32 is moved from a first position A to a second position B (in phantom).

The horizontal member 32 is provided with one or more openings or "button holes" 38 therein to provide means to attach the horizontal member 32 to a button 14 on the shirt 10. More than one opening 38 may be helpful to assist in the alignment of the present invention. Alternatively, other attachment means between the horizontal member 32 and a button 14 may be employed within the general scope of the contemplated invention, such as substituting for a button hole any other opening (e.g. in the form of a loop of thread or a hook attached to a small chain) affixed to the horizontal member 32 which may engage around or behind a button 14.

The method of operation of the present invention may be understood by review of Figures 1 through 3. A tie 16 including the apparatus of the present invention may be tied in any known manner. So long as a flexible material similar to the tie's material is used to create the vertical and horizontal members 30, 32, virtually no difference should be noticed in the normal procedure of tying the tie 10.

Once tied, the horizontal section 32 may then be slid along the vertical section 30 to align an opening 38 with a suitable button 14. Once aligned along the vertical member 30, the horizontal member 32 is attached to with one of the openings 38 to one of the shirt buttons 14. The tail section 22 may then be inserted through the horizontal member 32 to complete the positioning of the tie. Without departing from the present invention, it is important to note that the sequence of these steps may be performed in any order by personal preference (i.e. the tail may be inserted and then the horizontal section may be aligned and attached to a button) . The final orientation of the apparatus 28 of the present invention and a shirt 10 and shirt button 14 is shown in Figure 3.

In order to provide the maximum range of adjustability while being worn, the horizontal member 32 should be initially positioned midway between the top and bottom of the vertical member 30 when first adorned. The recommended relative position is shown in Figure 1. This orientation may be easily adjusted at any time by the wearer simply by relocating the horizontal member 32 onto a different button.

It should be appreciated that the vertical member 30 and the horizontal member 32 may be constructed from any desired material. Appropriate materials include those natural and man-made fibers normally employed in tie construction, such as cotton, polyester, and silk, as well as virtually any other material which can be securely anchored to a tie. Preferably, the present invention should be constructed from a durable material or materials which allow the vertical member 30 and the horizontal member 32 to slide easily relative to one another, such as polymer fabric (which may also be relatively inexpensive), or a material which complements the quality of the material in the tie (e.g. silk). In its preferred construction, the vertical member 30 should comprise a length of material which will cover a span of at least two buttons on a conventional dress shirt. This generally entails a length of within Ah to 7 inches. Preferably, the vertical member 32 is at least four and a half ( Ah ) inches long. The vertical member should be anchored near the end of the outward facing section 20 of the tie; anchoring the bottom end 36 3 to 6 inches from the tie's tip is suitable for most applications. The horizontal member 32 should be wide enough to anchor to a button 14 while comfortably surrounding the tail section 22 and the vertical member 32. For most present tie dimensions, a width of 1*5 to 2 inches provides sufficient room to permit easy sliding adjustment between the vertical member 30 and the horizontal member 32.

The present invention securely anchors the tie 16 to the shirt 10 and keeps it centered and close to the shirt in all forms of activities. However, the present invention is completely concealed and is in no way noticeable to the wearer or others. Unlike some previous devices, the present invention permits the necktie 16 to slide relative to its anchor point, thus permitting the tie to automatically adjust to increases and decreases in slack of the tie sections 20, 22, such as when passing between a seated and standing position. This provides the best presentation of the tie at all times without inconveniencing the wearer.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to such a disclosure and changes and modifications may be incorporated and embodied within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for restraining a necktie to a shirt having buttons down its front, said necktie including an outward facing section, with a front and a back, and a tail section, said tail section being oriented behind said outward facing section in normal wearing position, which apparatus comprises: a vertical member secured to the back of the outward facing section; a horizontal member secured around the vertical member while permitting the horizontal member to slide along the vertical member, the horizontal member being of a sufficient width to allow the tail section of the necktie to be inserted therethrough; the horizontal member including an opening of sufficient dimensions to secure a button on the front of the shirt within the opening; wherein the vertical member comprises a separate length of fabric having a top end and a bottom end, the fabric being attached to the back of the outward facing section at its top and bottom ends; and wherein once the necktie is adorned, the tail section is inserted through the horizontal member, the horizontal member is slid into a position along the vertical section to align the opening with a button on the shirt, and the button is secured to the horizontal member so to maintain a correct placement of the outward section and tail section of the tie relative to the shirt.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the horizontal member comprises a band which is attached to itself to surround completely the vertical section.

3. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the fabric is affixed by sewing its top and bottom ends to the back of the outward facing section of the necktie.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the horizontal member comprises a band which is attached to itself to surround completely the vertical section.

5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein the horizontal member is attached to itself by sewing.

6. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the horizontal member includes more than one opening therein, providing a choice of possible positions to secure a button to the horizontal member.

7. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the vertical member is of sufficient length to span at least two buttons on the shirt when in normal wearing position; and the horizontal member is of sufficient length and width, and has a sufficient number of openings therein, to permit it to be readily attached to a button on the shirt once the tie is adorned.

8. The apparatus of Claim 7 wherein the vertical member is at least Ah inches long, and the horizontal member is at least \h inches long and lh inches wide once it is secured to the vertical member.

9. Apparatus for the secure attachment of a four-in-hand necktie to a shirt with a row of buttons down its front, which comprises: the necktie having a outward facing section and a tail section, the tail section being oriented behind the outward facing section when the necktie is adorned, the outward facing section including a front and back; a vertical member attached to the back of the outward facing section, the vertical member spanning a length equal to at least the distance between two adjacent buttons; a horizontal member attached around the vertical member so to slide along its length, the horizontal member including therein at least one opening adapted to attach to a button on the shirt, and the horizontal member being of sufficient width that the tail section may be passed therethrough; wherein the vertical member comprises a separate length of fabric having a top end and a bottom end, the fabric being attached to the back of the outward facing section at its top and bottom ends; and wherein the necktie is secured by orienting an opening in the horizontal member with a button on the shirt by sliding the horizontal member to an appropriate position on the vertical member, attaching the button through the opening, and passing the tail section of the necktie through the horizontal member.

10. The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein the fabric is affixed by sewing its top and bottom ends to the back of the outward facing section of the necktie.

11. The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein the horizontal member comprises a band which is attached to itself to surround completely the vertical section.

12. The apparatus of Claim 11 wherein the horizontal member is attached to itself by sewing.

13. The apparatus of Claim 9 wherein the horizontal member includes more than one opening therein, providing a choice of possible positions to secure a button to the horizontal member.

14. A method of securing a four-in-hand necktie to a front of a shirt, the tie including an outward facing section having a front and back and a tail section which is oriented behind the outward facing section when the necktie is adorned, and the shirt including a row of buttons on its front, which comprises: providing a vertical member affixed to the back of the outward facing section of the necktie, and a horizontal member which attaches to and may be oriented in various positions along the vertical member, wherein the vertical member comprises a separate length of fabric having a top end and a bottom end, the fabric being attached to the back of the outward facing section at its top and bottom ends; and providing means on the horizontal member to attach to a button on the shirt; adorning the necktie in a conventional four-in-hand manner; positioning the horizontal member along the vertical member so to orient the attachment means with a shirt button; attaching the shirt button to the horizontal member; and passing the tail section through the horizontal member so to secure it behind the outward facing section.

15. The method of Claim 14 wherein the means provided on the horizontal member to attach to a button on the shirt comprises an opening in the horizontal member; and attaching the shirt button to the horizontal member is accomplished by passing the button through the opening in the horizontal member and securing it therein.

16. The method of Claim 15 wherein the horizontal member provided includes at least two openings; and attaching the shirt button to the horizontal member is accomplished by positioning the most easily oriented opening in the the horizontal member with the shirt button.

17. The method of Claim 14 wherein the vertical member provided is affixed to the necktie at a top and a bottom end and the horizontal member provided comprises a loop which is affixed around the vertical member; and the horizontal member is positioned along the vertical member by sliding the horizontal member along the length of the vertical member between its two ends.