WO1996014771A1

WO1996014771A1 - Necktie retainer

Info

Publication number: WO1996014771A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/002634
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Emery
Original assignee: Michael Emery
Priority date: 1994-11-16
Filing date: 1995-11-09
Publication date: 1996-05-23
Also published as: GB9423114D0; AU3850895A

Abstract

The present invention provides a necktie retainer (10) comprising a tether means (30), a shirt securing means (32) for securing one end of the tether means to a shirt of a wearer, and tie securing means for securing another end of the tether means (30) to a necktie (110) of the wearer, characterised in that the necktie securing means comprises two tie engaging parts (22, 24) which are biased apart one from the other and are moveable together for gripping the necktie therebetween and operating means (50) operable for moving the two parts together against the bias, and detent means (52) for releasably securing the tie engaging parts in the tie gripping position.

Description

NECKTIE RETAINER

The present invention relates to necktie retainer, and has particular reference to a retainer for releasably securing the free ends of a necktie to a shirt front of a wearer.

At the time of writing the use of tie pins and tie tacks for releasably securing the free ends of a necktie to the shirt front of a wearer is well-known. Tie pins and tie tacks include a pin for securing the tie pin or tie tack to the necktie and, in the case of tie pins, also to the shirt front. The disadvantage of tie pins and tie tacks therefore is that they involve piercing the necktie with the pin which damages the material of the necktie. Tie pins and tie tacks also include a decorative front part which, in use, is disposed in front of the tie.

GB-A-2231771 discloses a tie retaining device for holding the tail of a tie to the front without being visible from the front of the tie. US-A-5031284 teaches a different tie retaining device which, in the fitted position, is invisible from the front. The tie retaining devices of GB-A-2231771 and US-A-5031284 however each include two spaced pin portions for attachment to the reverse side of the necktie. The devices of GB-A-2231771 and US-A- 5031284 therefore suffer from the same disadvantage as conventional tie pins and tie tacks in that they involve piercing the necktie.

US-A-4972523 discloses a necktie retainer including a strip of "hook and loop" type fastening material attached to the reverse side of the front end of a necktie and a loop of cooperating "hook and loop" type material adapted to encircle the rear end of the necktie. The loop includes a button hole for attachment to the shirt front of a wearer and is adapted to cooperate with the "hook and loop" type material on the front end of the tie for securing releasably the two ends one to the other. A disadvantage of the retainer of US-A-4972523 however is that it reguires the strip of hook and loop type material to be fixedly secured to the front end of the tie. Furthermore, the retainer of US-A-4972523 does not permit any relative movement between the necktie and the shirt front at the point of attachment. It will be understood that this is undesirable as, in use, movement of the wearer will result in pulling of the necktie around the wearer's neck and at the point of attachment of the necktie to the shirt front.

An object of the present invention is to provide a necktie retainer which, when worn, is not visible from the front, which does not involve piercing the necktie and which allows a small amount of relative movement between the necktie and the shirt of the wearer in juxtaposition with the point of attachment so as to avoid "pulling" of the necktie as the wearer moves around.

According to one aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided a necktie retainer comprising:-

a tether means;

a shirt securing means for securing one end of the tether means to a shirt of a wearer; and

a tie securing means for securing another end of the tether means to a necktie of the wearer;

characterised in that said necktie securing means comprises two tie engaging parts which are biased apart one from the other and are movable together for gripping the necktie therebetween, and operating means operable for moving the two parts together against the bias, and detent means for releasably securing the tie engaging parts in the tie gripping position.

The necktie retainer of the present invention therefore has the advantages that it does not involve piercing the necktie; furthermore, on releasing the detent means, the tie gripping parts move apart one from the other under the influence of the bias thereby reducing the likelihood of damaging the necktie.

Said tie securing means may comprise two spaced elongate arms which are shaped towards their juxtaposed extremities for gripping the tie.

In some embodiments the operating means may comprise a slider which encircles at least a part of each elongate arm and is movable along said arms between a disengaged position and a gripping position; the arms may be shaped such that as the slider is moved from the disengaged position to the gripping position, the arms are moved together for gripping the necktie. Typically the elongate arms may diverge one from the other towards the juxtaposed extremities, and the slider may encircle the whole of each arm.

Said slider may be loop-shaped. Typically, the slider may be a ring; said ring may be circular or oval-shaped when viewed in section on the plane defined by the ring.

In another aspect of the present invention, the detent means may be adapted for securing releasably the slider in the gripping position. In some embodiments, the arms may be shaped to define a detent for securing releasably the slider in the gripping position.

In a different aspect of the present invention said necktie securing means may further comprise a holding means intermediate said other end of the tether means and the tie engaging parts for holding the narrower end of the necktie, the tie engaging parts being adapted for engaging the wider end of the necktie.

In some embodiments the holding means may comprise a loop adapted to encircle the narrow end of the necktie.

Typically, the tie engaging parts may be adapted for gripping the seam or fold formed in the reverse side of the wide end of the necktie. Alternatively, the tie engaging parts may be adapted for gripping a "pinched" portion of the material forming the reversed side of the wider end of the necktie.

In yet another aspect of the present invention said tie engaging parts and said loop for holding the narrower end of the necktie may be formed integrally as a single piece. In some embodiments the tie engaging parts and loop may be formed from a length of wire, typically sprung steel wire. Alternatively, the tie engaging parts of the loop may be cut out from a sheet of metal. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the bias urging the two tie engaging parts apart may be provided by the resilience of the material from which the tie securing means is manufactured.

In some embodiments said shirt securing means may comprise a button bar and jewellery chain of the kind well-known to a person skilled in the art.

Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of methods of carrying the present invention into effect.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a necktie retainer in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the necktie of Figure 1 when in use.

A tie retainer (10) according to the present invention includes a length of sprung steel wire (12) which is shaped to define a generally triangular frame (14) having a substantially straight rear section (16) and two forwardly directed angled sections (18, 20) and two spaced, generally parallel forwardly directed arms (22, 24). Said triangular frame (14) is constituted by a central portion of the wire (12); said arms (22, 24) are formed respectively by two end portions of the wire (12) .

The rear section (16) of triangular frame (14) is shaped substantially equidistant between the two angled sections (18, 20) to form a C-shaped portion (26) to which is fixedly secured one end of a jewellery chain (30) of a kind well-known to a person skilled in the art. The other end of said jewellery chain (30) is secured fixedly to a button bar of a type which is also well-known to a person skilled in the art.

Said forwardly directed arms (22, 24) are angled towards one another at their juxtaposed extremities (40, 42) to define a small gap (44) therebetween. The two arms (22, 24) generally diverge from one another intermediate said extremities (40, 42) and the triangular frame (14) and carry a ring (50) which encircles both arms (22, 24) as shown in Figure 1.

Juxtaposed the triangular frame (14), the spacing between the arms (22, 24) is less than the internal diameter of the ring (50). The ring (50) can be moved forwardly along the arms (22, 24) towards said extremities (40, 42) thereby urging the arms (22, 24) towards one another against a restoring force which is due to the resilience of the sprung steel wire (12).

At a point (52) intermediate the triangular frame (14) and said extremities (40, 42), the arms (22, 24) are deflected inwardly towards one another to form a detent for the ring (50). The spacing between the arms (22, 24) at point (52) is such that when the ring (50) is slid forwardly to this point, the gap (44) between the extremities (40, 42) is closed. The detent is shaped such that on releasing the ring (50), the ring remains captive in the detent to prevent the arms (22, 24) moving apart and the gap (44) reopening.

When ring (50) is positioned in the detent (52) and gap (44) is closed, the separation of the arms (22, 24) in juxtaposition with the extremities (40, 42) is such as to prevent the complete removal of ring (50) from the arms without applying a force higher than is required for a normal operation of the necktie retainer.

In use as shown in Figure 2, the button bar (52) can be entered through a button hole (100) in the shirt front of a wearer to anchor said other end of the jewellery chain (30) to the shirt.

The narrow end (110) of a necktie of the wearer can be inserted through the triangular frame (14) for holding the narrow end (110) of the necktie loosely in juxtaposition with the shirt front. With the ring (50) positioned in juxtaposition with said frame (14), the seam or fold on the reverse side of the wider end (112) of the necktie is entered between the juxtaposed extremities (40, 42) of the arms (22, 24) in the gap (44). The ring (50) is then slid forwardly to the detent (52) to move the arms (22, 24) together so as to close gap (44) and grip the wider end (112) of the necktie between the arms (22, 24). In this way, the wider (112) and narrower (110) ends of the necktie are held loosely in juxtaposition with the shirt front of the wearer. The engagement of the ring in the detent provides a positive gripping action for gripping the tie.

In order to release the necktie from the retainer (10), the ring (50) is slid rearwardly from the detent (52) thereby allowing the arms (22, 24) to move apart from one another due to the resilience of the sprung steel, thereby opening gap (44) and releasing the wider end (112) of the tie. The narrower end (110) of the tie can be removed from the frame (14) and the button bar (32) removed from said button hole (100).

It will be appreciated that the tie retainer as hereinbefore described will be substantially invisible from the front in service and does not require piercing of the necktie. Furthermore, as the tie gripping arms (22, 24) are biased apart one from the other, when the ring (50) is removed from the detent (52), the arms (22, 24) will spring apart thereby releasing the wider end (112) of the tie and eliminating substantially any risk of accidentally ripping or damaging the tie material.

Claims

1. A necktie retainer comprising:-

a tether means;

2. A necktie retainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tie securing means comprises two spaced elongate arms which are shaped towards their juxtaposed extremities for gripping the tie.

3. A necktie retainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein the operating means comprises a slider which encircles at least a part of each elongate arm and is movable along said arms between a disengaged position and a gripping position; and said arms are shaped such that as the slider is moved from the disengaged position to the gripping position, the arms are moved together for gripping the necktie.

4. A necktie retainer as claimed in claim 3 wherein the elongate arms diverge one from the other towards the juxtaposed extremities and the slider encircles the whole of each arm.

5. A necktie retainer as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said slider is loop-shaped.

6. A necktie retainer as claimed in claim 3, claim 4, or claim 5 wherein the detent means is adapted for securing releasably the slider in the gripping position.

7. A necktie retainer as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6 wherein the arms are shaped to define a detent for securing releasably the sliding and gripping position.

8. A necktie retainer as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a holding means intermediate said other end of the tether means and the tie engaging parts for holding the narrower end of the necktie, the tie engaging parts being adapted for engaging the wider end of the necktie.

9. A necktie retainer as claimed in claim 8 wherein the holding means comprises a loop adapted to encircle the narrow end of the necktie.

10. A necktie retainer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tie engaging parts and said loop for holding the narrower end of the necktie are formed integrally as a single piece.