Abstract:
A scarf harness according to the present teachings facilitates the wearing of a scarf as a clothing accessory. The harness can allow the scarf to drape across the front of a user. The draping of a scarf can allow the visual pattern of the scarf to be easily seen and can enhance the impact of the scarf as a clothing accessory. The scarf harness can retain the scarf in a draped function over the front of the user along with providing a distinctive butterfly-type shape to the scarf.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present teachings relate to clothing and, particularly, to a harness that facilitates the wearing of a scarf as a clothing accessory. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present teachings and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    Scarves can be used as clothing accessories. Typically, the scarf is folded up and worn around the neck. When folded up, however, the pattern of the scarf can be obscured and/or partially hidden. As a result, the visual impact of the scarf may be diminished. 
         [0004]    A scarf harness according to the present teachings facilitates the wearing of a scarf as a clothing accessory. The harness can allow the scarf to drape across the front of a user. The draping of a scarf can allow the visual pattern of the scarf to be easily seen and can enhance the impact of the scarf as a clothing accessory. The scarf harness can retain the scarf in a draped function over the front of the user along with providing a distinctive butterfly-type shape to the scarf. 
         [0005]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are respective front and rear plan views of a scarf being retained on a user with a scarf harness according to the present teachings; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are respective front and rear perspective views of the scarf harness according to the present teachings; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the scarf harness of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 6A  and B are cross-sectional views along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4  showing the fastening device in a closed and open position, respectively; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of an exemplary scarf that can be used with a scarf harness according to the present teachings; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of another scarf harness according to the present teachings; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of another scarf harness according to the present teachings; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is yet another scarf harness according to the present teachings. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present teachings, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features (e.g.,  20 ,  120 ,  220 , etc.). 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , a scarf harness  20  according to the present teachings is shown. Harness  20  is operable to retain a scarf  22  on a person/user  24  (shown in phantom) to serve as a clothing accessory. Harness  20  can include a torso portion  26  configured to extend along a torso of user  24  and a shoulder portion  28  configured to extend from torso portion  26  up along the rear portion of user  24  onto the shoulders. 
         [0017]    Torso portion  26  can include a rear torso strap  30  with left and right ends  32 ,  34 . Torso portion  26  can include a front torso strap  36  with left and right ends  38 ,  40 . One end of front torso strap  36  can be fixedly connected to one of the ends of rear torso strap  30  while the other ends of front and rear torso straps  36 ,  30  are free ends. For example, as depicted in  FIGS. 3-5 , left end  38  of front torso strap  36  can be fixedly coupled to left end  32  of rear torso strap  30  while right end  40  of front torso strap  36  and right end  34  of rear torso strap  30  are free ends. The free ends of front and rear torso straps  36 ,  30  can be removably coupled together when using harness  20 . For example, a fastening device  42  can be used to couple the free ends together. The fastening device can include a clip  42 , as shown, or other types of fastening devices such as snaps, buttons, and hook-and-loop fasteners. It should be appreciated, that the description of suitable fastening members is merely exemplary and that other fastening members or means can be utilized. 
         [0018]    Shoulder portion  28  can include left and right shoulder straps  46 ,  48 . One end of each shoulder strap  46 ,  48  can be integral with torso portion  26 , as shown. In some embodiments, shoulder straps  46 ,  48  can be separate and distinct components that can be selectively attached to torso portion  26 . Left and right shoulder straps  46 ,  48  have respective free ends  50 ,  52 . Shoulder straps  46 ,  48  extend upwardly from torso portion  26 . Shoulder straps  46 ,  48  can extend upwardly from torso portion  26  at an angle α. Angle α can be an acute angle. Each shoulder strap  46 ,  48  can extend upwardly from different sections of rear torso strap  30 , as shown. In some embodiments, shoulder straps  46 ,  48  can extend upwardly from a same section of rear torso strap  30 . 
         [0019]    Free ends  50 ,  52  of shoulder straps  46 ,  48  are configured to extend upwardly along the back of user  24 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and to attach to adjacent corners of scarf  22 . Fastening devices  56  can be used to secure scarf  22  to free ends  50 ,  52  of shoulder straps  46 ,  48 , as described below. Fastening devices  56  are also located in left and right ends  32 ,  34  of rear torso strap  30  to secure portions of scarf  22  thereto, as described below. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6A  and B, details of one exemplary type of fastening device  56  are shown. In this embodiment, fastening device  56  is a snap fastener that can be deformed to form a cavity  58  therein within which portions of scarf  22  can be inserted and secured. Fastening device  56  can include upper and lower members  56   a ,  56   b  that are attached together along their adjacent longitudinal sides  57 . As shown in  FIG. 6B , the application of a force F to opposite sides  57  causes upper and lower portions  56   a ,  56   b  to deform away from one another and a cavity  58  to appear therebetween. The resilient nature of portions  56   a ,  56   b  causes them to come back together upon release of force F, as shown in  FIG. 6A . In this manner, fastening device  56  can be opened to allow portions of scarf  22  to be inserted therein and then closed onto the portions of the scarf to retain the scarf therein. In some embodiments, fastening devices  56  can be disposed internally to the portions of scarf harness  20 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , fastening device  56  can be disposed with an upper or lower portion  46   a ,  46   b  of left shoulder strap  46 . Fastening devices  56  on left and right ends  32 ,  34  of rear torso strap  30  and in right shoulder strap  48  can be similarly constructed. In some embodiments, fastening devices  56  can be external to the associated portion of harness  20 . 
         [0021]    It should be appreciated that fastening devices  56  can take a variety of other forms different than that shown and discussed above. For example, fastening devices  56  can be external clips that can be operated to selectively retain portions of the scarf thereto. In some embodiments, the fastening devices may appear simply as a slot through the associated portion of scarf harness  20  through which a portion of the scarf can be inserted. 
         [0022]    Scarf harness  20  can also include a gathering member  60  that can be coupled to front torso strap  36 . Gathering member  60  is operable to receive scarf  22  therein and to bunch a central portion of scarf  22  together, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Gathering member  60  can take a variety of forms. For example, in some embodiments gathering member  60  is a solid annular or ring member with a central opening  62  extending therethrough. In some embodiments, gathering member  60  can be oblong, as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . In some embodiments, gathering member  60  can have a circular periphery, such as shown in  FIG. 8 . In some embodiments, gathering member  62  can be a multi-component member operable to open and close to bunch the central portion of scarf  22  together. In some embodiments, gathering member  60  can be a clip, pin, broach, and the like. In some embodiments, gathering member  60  can have an accessory, such as jewelry, broaches, decorative pieces, ribbons and the like, attached thereto, by way of non-limiting example. It should be appreciated, however, that gathering member  60  can take a variety of forms and that the above mentioned forms are merely exemplary. 
         [0023]    Scarf harness  20  is operable to retain a scarf  22  on the body of a user, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Scarf  22 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , can be rectangular. When rectangular, scarf  22  can include four sides  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70  with four corners  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 . Scarf  22  can be made from a variety of materials and can include a variety of patterns thereon. 
         [0024]    To use scarf harness  20 , adjacent ends, such as ends  74 ,  76  of scarf  22 , are brought together and inserted through opening  62  in gathering member  60  until a central portion  80  of scarf  22  is in gathering member  60 . Other adjacent corners, such as corner  72 ,  74  of scarf  22 , can then be connected to respective left and right free ends  50 ,  52  of shoulder straps  46 ,  48  with the associated fastening devices  56 . The head of user  24  can be inserted into the opening created between shoulder straps  46 ,  48  and side  66  of scarf  22  to position ends  72 ,  74  of scarf  22  on the shoulders of user  24  with shoulder straps  46 ,  48  extending along the back of user  24 . Free end  40  of front torso strap  36  can be coupled to gathering member  60 , such as by inserting front torso strap  36  through opening  62  to secure gathering member  60  to front torso strap  36 . Free end  40  can then be coupled to free end  34  of rear torso strap  30  with clip  42 . Additionally, the central sections of sides  64 ,  68  of scarf  22  can be coupled to the associated respective right and left ends  34 ,  32  of rear torso strap  30  with fastening devices  56 . As a result, scarf  22  can cover a front portion of user  24  and can form a generally butterfly-type configuration, as shown in  FIG. 1 , when worn by user  24 . Ends  76 ,  78  are free to move while ends  72 ,  74  are secured to scarf harness  20  along with central sections of sides  68 ,  64 . Front torso strap  36  and gathering member  60  limit the movement of scarf  22  relative to the front portion of user  24 , such as when bending over and moving around. Gathering member  60  causes central portion  80  of scarf  22  to be bunched together around the center of user  24 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    Front torso strap  36  can have elastic characteristics to accommodate different dimensions of user  24 . Additionally, elastic characteristics can help retain gathering member  60  and central portion  80  of scarf  22  close to the front portion of user  24  during movement. The use of a front torso strap  36  having elastic characteristics can facilitate the comfort of user  24  when wearing harness  20  with scarf  22  secured thereto. The elastic characteristics can allow front torso strap  36  to stretch and deform as user  24  goes about their normal daily activity which can include various movements of the body. 
         [0026]    Rear torso strap  30  and shoulder straps  46 ,  48  can be elastic or non-elastic. Additionally, rear torso strap  30  and shoulder straps  46 ,  48  can be a fixed length or have adjustable lengths. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , an alternate configuration of a scarf harness  120  is shown. Scarf harness  120  is similar to scarf harness  20  discussed above. As such, only the main differences therebetween will be described. In scarf harness  120 , front and rear torso straps  136 ,  130  are a single continuous strap. As such, torso portion  126  has a single strap. Clips  142  are attached to appropriate locations on torso portion  126  and can be used in lieu of internal fastening devices  56  discussed above with reference to scarf harness  20 . Gathering member  160  can be fixedly coupled to torso portion  126 . Additionally, shoulder portion  128  can also be a single continuous strap that is secured to torso portion  126  with shoulder straps  146 ,  148  extending upwardly therefrom. Again, clips  142  can be attached to the ends of shoulder straps  146 ,  148  in lieu of the internal fastening devices  56  discussed above with reference to scarf harness  20 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , another alternate configuration of a scarf harness  220  is shown. Scarf harness  220  is similar to scarf harness  20  discussed above. As such, only the main differences will be described. In scarf harness  220 , the rear torso strap of torso portion  226  and shoulder portion  228  are integral with one another and can be formed from a single continuous piece of material. As such, scarf harness  220  covers a significantly larger area of the back portion of user  24  of scarf harness  220 . End  238  of front torso strap  236  can be fixedly coupled to end  232  while free end  240  can be selectively coupled to end  234  of torso portion  226 . 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 10 , yet another configuration of a scarf harness  320  according to the present teachings is shown. Scarf harness  320  is similar to scarf harness  20  discussed above. As such, only the main differences will be described. Scarf harness  320  can include a plurality of fastening devices  390  attached to shoulder straps  346 ,  348  and rear torso strap  330 . Fastening devices  390  can be utilized to attach a decorative cover  392  over the back side of scarf harness  320 . For example, fastening devices  390  can be one part of a hook-and-loop fastener while cover  392  includes the other part of the hook-and-loop fastener. Cover  392  can then be removably attached to the rear of scarf harness  320  to cover at least a portion of shoulder portions  328  and torso portion  326 . Cover  392  can take a variety of shapes, configurations and have a variety of patterns or colors. By way of non-limiting example, cover  392  can be shaped like a shell (as shown), a butterfly, or a flower. As such, scarf harness  320  allows various decorative covers  392  to be secured thereto to further enhance the pattern of scarf  22  and complement the clothing of user  24 . Additionally, front torso strap  336  is completely removable from rear torso strap  330 . To facilitate this, rear torso strap  330  can include clips  342  adjacent left and right ends  332 ,  334  that allow front torso strap  336  to be selectively secured thereto. 
         [0030]    While a scarf harness according to the present teachings has been described and illustrated with reference to various configurations, it should be appreciated that such descriptions and illustrations are merely exemplary in nature and that changes and deviations to the scarf harnesses shown can be made. For example, the various features of the different configurations can be mixed or matched to provide a desired scarf harness. Additionally, the dimensions and spacing of various features of the scarf harnesses can be changed from that shown to provide a desired aesthetically pleasing appearance. Moreover, other types of fastening devices and means, such as buttons and snaps by way of non-limiting example, can be utilized on the scarf harness. As such, such changes and alterations are within the present teachings and should not be construed as deviating from the spirit and scope of the claims.