WO2015001512A2

WO2015001512A2 - A collar stay having at least two elongate members and an attachment assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2015001512A2
Application number: PCT/IB2014/062829
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shaun NASCIMENTO
Original assignee: MPOLLO, Yannick
Priority date: 2013-07-04
Filing date: 2014-07-03
Publication date: 2015-01-08
Also published as: WO2015001512A3

Abstract

A collar stay (100) adds structural support to a collar (202) of a shirt (200), the collar (202) having a point (210), a front edge (212), and a peripherally extending outer edge (214), with a shirt body (204) and the collar (202) being divided by a fold line (220). The collar stay (100) has a body (101, 401, 501) with a first elongate member (102) and a second elongate member (104) connected to the first elongate member (102) at a vertex (106), the first and second elongate members (102, 104) being acutely angled relative to each other, the body (101, 401, 501) thus having an L- or V-shape. The collar stay (100) also has an attachment assembly (300) having at least two complemental attachment elements (302, 304, 312-318), a first attachment element (302, 312, 314) provided on the collar (202) on or adjacent a free end (108) of the second elongate member (104) and a second attachment element (304, 316, 318) provided on the shirt body (204) aligned or alignable with the first attachment element (302, 312, 314).

Description

A COLLAR STAY HAVING AT LEAST TWO ELONGATE MEMBERS AND AN

ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a collar stay having at least two elongate members and an attachment assembly, and to a shirt having such a collar stay.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Collar stays are often used to help ensure that shirt collars remain neat and in place. A collar stay typically has a rigid, elongate body which is made from plastic or metal. Their bodies are usually pointed at one end and rounded at the other, and are insertable into specially made pockets which are located on an underside of the collar.

Drawbacks of these collar stays of which the Inventor is aware is that, while they may keep the point of the collar supported, they do not usually support the front edge of the collar. Through use, and especially after repeated washes, the collar tends to move away from the shirt body causing the collar to look misshapen.

The Inventor wishes to provide a collar stay which addresses these drawbacks and which has certain additional benefits, when compared to conventional collar stays.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention provides a collar stay for adding structural support to a collar of a shirt, the collar having a point, a front edge, and a peripherally extending outer edge, with a shirt body and the collar being divided by a fold line, characterised in that the collar stay includes:

a body comprising at least:

a first elongate member; and

a second elongate member connected to the first elongate member at a vertex, the first and second elongate members being acutely angled relative to each other, the body thus having an L- or V-shape, such that in use, the body can be placed in the collar of the shirt such that the vertex is at or adjacent the point of the collar, the first elongate member is adjacent and aligned with the front edge, and the second elongate member projects rearwardly laterally between the front and outer edges towards the fold line; and

an attachment assembly having at least two complemental attachment elements, a first attachment element provided on the collar on or adjacent a free end of the second elongate member and a second attachment element provided on the shirt body aligned or alignable with the first attachment element, with the attachment elements being co-operable to attach the collar in the region of the free end of the second elongate member to the shirt body.

In one embodiment, one of the elongate members may project past the vertex whereas the other may not.

The angle between the first and second elongate members may be 30^°-80^°. More specifically, the angle between the first and second elongate members may be 45^°- 60^°.

The second elongate member may be longer than the first elongate member. More specifically, the second elongate member may be 1 .5-3.0 times longer than the first elongate member, e.g., 2.0 times longer.

The free end of the second elongate member may be crooked or offset relative to the remainder of the second elongate member.

The attachment assembly may include at least two user-selectable attachment positions, such that a user can select one of at least two positions to attach the collar relative to the shirt body. By varying the position of the attachment assembly, the orientation, position, lie, or shape of the collar may be varied, e.g., it may be variable between i) a more open or cut-away position and ii) a more closed or pointy position.

The attachment assembly may be magnetic. In such case, at least a portion of the second elongate member may be metal and may constitute the first attachment element and a magnet may be provided on the shirt body and may constitute the second attachment element (or vice versa).

The attachment assembly may be a mechanical interference fit. The attachment assembly may comprise at least one press stud, with the first and second attachment elements being complemental parts of the press stud. The attachment assembly may comprise hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro™). The attachment assembly may comprise at least one button and button hole.

The body may include a third elongate member projecting from the vertex. The second member may be arranged between the first and third elongate members. The third elongate member may be orientated transversely to the first elongate member, such that in use, the third elongate member is adjacent and aligned with the outer edge of the collar. The body may thus have the overall appearance of an arrowhead.

The body may be flat, extending substantially in a single plane.

The body may be made at least partially from a polymer, e.g., resilient plastic. The body may be made at least partially from a metal. The body may be made at least partially from a ferromagnetic material, such as stainless steel.

The body may be of a unitary moulding, casting, or other manufacture, or of compound parts attached together.

The invention extends to a shirt (or other garment or article of clothing) with a collar having a point, a front edge, and a peripherally extending outer edge, with a shirt body (or garment body) and the collar being divided by a fold line, characterised in that the collar stay as defined above is provided in the collar.

The body of the collar stay may be irremovably stitched to the collar. Instead, the body of the collar stay may be removably receivable in a matching channel or pocket provided in the collar. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of one embodiment of a collar stay in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a shirt which includes a pair of the collar stays of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged three-dimensional view of the shirt of FIG. 2, with a collar of the shirt folded down;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged three-dimensional view of the shirt of FIG. 2, with the collar turned up;

FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of a shirt which includes a second embodiment of a collar stay in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional view of a shirt which includes a third embodiment of a collar stay in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognise that many changes can be made to the embodiment described, while still attaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be attained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilising other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognise that modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances, and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not a limitation thereof.

FIG. 1 shows a basic embodiment of a collar stay 100 in accordance with the invention. In the basic embodiment, the collar stay 100 has a body 101 which comprises a first elongate member 102 and a second elongate member 104 connected to the first elongate member 102 at a vertex 106. The elongate members 102, 104 are acutely angled relative to each other, defining an angle a which is about 60^° in this example. The body 101 thus has a V-shaped appearance. The second elongate member 104 is about twice as long as the first elongate member 102.

The second elongate member 104 has a free end 108 which is crooked or offset relative to the remainder of the member 104. This free end is used in conjunction with an attachment assembly 300 (described further below).

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate the collar stay 100 of FIG. 1 in a shirt 200. The collar stay 100 could be non-removably stitched/sewn into the shirt 200, or removably receivable in a matching channel or pocket (not illustrated) provided in the shirt 100. In typical shirt fashion, the shirt 100 has a collar 202 and a shirt body 204 which is divided from the collar 202 by a fold line 220 extending around a periphery of the collar 202. The collar has a point 210, a pair of front edges 212, and an outer edge 214 which extends around the periphery of the collar 202 opposite the fold line 220.

When fitted to the collar 202, the body 101 of the collar stay 100 is orientated in a particular way. Specifically, the vertex 106 is at or adjacent the point 210 of the collar 202, the first elongate member 102 is adjacent and aligned with the front edge 212, and the second elongate member 104 projects rearwardly laterally between the front and outer edges 212, 214 towards the fold line 220.

FIG. 4 illustrates the attachment assembly 300 in a little more detail. The attachment assembly 300 comprises at least two complemental elements: a first attachment element 302 provided on the collar 202 on or adjacent the free end 108 of the second elongate member 104; and a second attachment element 304 provided on the shirt body 204. The attachment elements 302, 304 are aligned or alignable with each other. In use, the attachment elements 302, 304 are co-operable to attach the collar 202 in the region of the free end 108 of the second elongate member 104 to the shirt body 204.

There are various possible configurations of the attachment assembly 300. In one embodiment, the attachment assembly 300 is magnetic. Accordingly, the first attachment element 302 is a magnetic element which in this example is simply a ferrous metal. In fact, the entire body 101 can be made of a ferrous metal like stainless steel which will ensure longevity and the substance of the body 101 itself can then act as the first attachment element 302. The second attachment element 304 is a magnet 304 provided on the shirt body 204. The magnet 304 may be adhered or stitched to the shirt body 204, or attached by other means.

The Inventor believes that arranging the attachment assembly 300 near to the fold line 220 is advantageous because, not only will it be out of sight, but it will still permit a limited amount of movement of the collar 202 providing a more natural look and feel. The collar 202 will still be urged downwardly against the shirt body 204 but will not look forced or pinched.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the collar stay 100 which differs in two aspects: i) the vertex 106; and ii) the attachment assembly 310. The collar stay includes a slightly differently shaped body 401. In this embodiment, the second elongate member 104 projects past the vertex 106 to form a short tip 404. This tip 404 is positioned inwardly of the point 210 of the collar 202. The first elongate member 102 is thus still adjacent, but spaced a short distance away from, the front edge 212. This may still sufficiently support the front edge 212 but permit the inclusion of a stitched area between the first elongate member 102 and the front edge 212.

The attachment assembly 310 in this example comprises mechanical fasteners in the form of two press studs 312-318. The first attachment elements in the form of male press stud components 312, 314 are provided beneath the collar 202, fastened to the free end 108 of the body 401 and protruding from the fabric of the collar 202. The second attachment elements are the female press stud components 316, 318 fastened to the shirt body 204 just beneath the fold line 220.

The attachment assembly 310 in this configuration has three user-selectable attachment positions, such that a user (e.g., a wearer of the shirt 200) can select one of the three positions to attach the collar relative to the shirt body 204. A neutral position is when respective press studs 312-318 are aligned and snapped together. In other words, male component 312 and female component 316 are snapped together, and likewise for male component 314 and female component 314.

However, the user may wish to vary the angle of the collar 202, e.g., to realise a different style or to accommodate a different neck tie. For a more open or wider collar, the inner male component 312 can be snapped to the outer female component 318. This will serve to move the collar 202 slightly outwardly and increase an angle and spacing between opposed outer edges 212 of the collar 202. Instead, for a more closed collar or narrower collar gap, the outer male component 314 can be snapped to the inner female component 316. This will serve to urge the opposed outer edges 212 towards each other.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the collar stay 100 which has a body 501 with three elongate members 102, 104, 504. In addition to the first and second elongate members 102, 104, the body 501 includes a third elongate member 504. This third elongate member 504 is arranged transversely to the first elongate member 102 such that the body 501 has an arrowhead appearance. The third elongate member 504 is arranged in use adjacent to and inwardly from the outer edge 214.

The body 401 , 501 of FIGS 5 and 6 is flat, lying in a plane, and moulded of a semirigid resilient plastic, e.g., PVC.

The Inventor believes that the collar stay 100 as exemplified is advantageous because the various components work together to support many parts of the collar 202. The first elongate member 102 ensures that the front edge 212 remains straight. The vertex 106 ensures that the point 210 of the collar 202 does not curl (either upwardly or downwardly). The second elongate member 104 adds structural support to the collar 202 and serves to attach the body 101 , 401 , 501 to the shirt body 204. In particular, the attachment provided by the attachment assembly 300, 310 is fairly close to the fold line 220 which means that the collar 202 is held sufficiently fast with the shirt body 204 to inhibit unwanted curling, displacement, or folding of the collar 202, but still permits the point 210 to move slightly, giving the collar 202 a natural look and feel. Further, because the attachment assembly 300, 310 is close to the fold line 220, a conventional neck tie can comfortably be accommodated below the assembly 300, 310 without either one interfering with the other.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A collar stay for adding structural support to a collar of a shirt, the collar having a point, a front edge, and a peripherally extending outer edge, with a shirt body and the collar being divided by a fold line, characterised in that the collar stay includes:

a body comprising:

a first elongate member; and

2. The collar stay as claimed in claim 1 , in which one of the elongate members projects past the vertex whereas the other does not.

3. The collar stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 -2, in which the angle between the first and second elongate members is 30^°-80^°.

4. The collar stay as claimed in claim 3, in which the angle between the first and second elongate members is 45^°-60^°.

5. The collar stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 -4, in which the second elongate member is longer than the first elongate member.

6. The collar stay as claimed in claim 5, in which the second elongate member is 1 .5-3.0 times longer than the first elongate member.

7. The collar stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 -6, in which the free end of the second elongate member is crooked or offset relative to the remainder of the second elongate member.

8. The collar stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 -7, in which the attachment assembly includes at least two user-selectable attachment positions, such that a user can select one of at least two positions to attach the collar relative to the shirt body.

9. The collar stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 -8, in which the attachment assembly is magnetic.

10. The collar stay as claimed in claim 9, in which:

at least a portion of the second elongate member is metal and constitutes the first attachment element; and

a magnet is provided on the shirt body and constitutes the second attachment element.

11. The collar stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 -8, in which the attachment assembly is a mechanical interference fit.

12. The collar stay as claimed in claim 1 1 , in which the attachment assembly comprises at least one press stud, with the first and second attachment elements being complemental parts of the press stud.

13. The collar stay as claimed in claim 1 1 , in which the attachment assembly comprises hook and loop fasteners.

14. The collar stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 -13, in which the body includes a third elongate member projecting from the vertex.

15. The collar stay as claimed in claim 14, in which:

the second member is arranged between the first and third elongate members; and

the third elongate member is orientated transversely to the first elongate member, such that in use, the third elongate member is adjacent and aligned with the outer edge of the collar.

16. A shirt with a collar having a point, a front edge, and a peripherally extending outer edge, with a shirt body and the collar being divided by a fold line, characterised in that the collar stay as claimed in any one of claims 1 -15 is provided in the collar.

17. The shirt as claimed in claim 16, in which the body of the collar stay is irremovably stitched to the collar.

18. The shirt as claimed in claim 16, in which the body of the collar stay is removably receivable in a matching channel or pocket provided in the collar.

19. The shirt as claimed in any one of claims 16-18, in which the second attachment element is attached to the shirt body below the fold line.