Abstract:
A necktie having one or two openings or slots in the necktie body to facilitate tying and setting the length of the front section, or “blade” of the necktie and allowing the blade and the tail of the necktie to be arranged more easily than with a conventional necktie, with embodiments having the slot extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the necktie, alternate embodiments having the slot set at an acute angle to the longitudinal centerline of the necktie, alternate embodiments having two slots positioned approximately parallel to one another and extending along or at an acute angle from the longitudinal centerline of the necktie, alternate embodiments having the slot(s) inset in an enclosed mechanism, such as a zipper, to allow for the fine-tune adjustment of the slot&#39;s location along the length of the necktie, alternate embodiments including an insert, such as a grommet or eyelet to reinforce the edge(s) of the slot(s), alternate embodiments having buttonhole stitching to reinforce the edge(s) of the slot(s), alternate embodiments in which the tail is of sufficient length to fall vertically against the torso after tying, and alternate embodiments in which the tail is cropped short either to show as a tab at the collar adjacent the slot, or to be tucked beneath the collar and not to show.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates generally to accessory apparel, in particular neckwear and neckties, the invention herein featuring a slot in the fabric of the necktie used to simplify tying and provide a variety of decorative arrangements of the necktie. The present disclosure seeks to provide both an alternative method of tying neckties, as well as a unique fashion design feature. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    It is well understood that several methods of making neckties, each involving the provision of strips of material in characteristic shapes, providing a lining, and stitching the strips of material so as to completely cover this lining, have been developed and used. It is also known that the body of the necktie may feature a two-sided or a folded construction, may utilize different materials, patterns and colors from front to back, thereby providing a variation on design and appearance. It is not, therefore, desired to claim such constructions broadly. 
         [0003]    PCTUS0785589 (Kennedy) teaches a necktie with a “through-hole” in the face of the necktie through which the lower end of an accessory extension attached to the upper front of the necktie may be passed to provide a particular appearance. 
         [0004]    However, of the known versions and modifications to neckties none has a slot to facilitate the tying and wearing of the necktie itself. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    Embodiments of the present invention improve upon traditional neckties by simplifying the processes of securing and presenting the necktie. To don and present a conventional necktie, that is one without an incorporated slot, the wearer must wrap the necktie around the neck and then fashion a knot which serves both to hold the necktie in place and to create the change in orientation between the desired horizontal orientation of the neck band and the desired vertical orientation of the blade. 
         [0006]    To achieve the proper look and presentation length, the wearer must fashion the knot at the proper position along the necktie. However, this proper position is not easily determined, with the result that, often, when attempting to don and tie a necktie, the wearer must untie and adjust the position of the necktie one or more times in order to get the necktie to lay in the desired manner. 
         [0007]    Additionally, there are myriad ways to knot a traditional necktie. Vejdemo-Johansson, has, in fact, identified 177,147 such knots. Needless to say, there are many ways to accomplish the tying process, and each method has a different result and degree of aesthetic success. A slotted necktie removes uncertainty from donning and tying the necktie by creating a uniform final step which will always produce the desired length of the blade, regardless of which preceding steps the wearer chooses. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is the objective of the present disclosure to provide for novel and improved methods of donning, tying and wearing a necktie. This is accomplished by incorporating one or more through openings, in the form of a slot or slots, in the body of the necktie, most preferably in the form of a rectangular opening. The slot or slots are used to provide an improved method of donning and tying the necktie heretofore undocumented, while generally consistent with the overall function and appearance of traditional neckties. When donned, the tie will function like traditional neckties by completely encircling the neck and presenting a displayed front portion, known as the “blade”, to lie flat and to extend vertically against and along the wearer&#39;s torso. 
         [0009]    At the same time, it is an objective of the present disclosure to present novel variations to the ordinary appearance of traditional neckties. The blade of the necktie herein emerges through the slot at the approximate vertical midpoint of the neck-wrapped section. The width of the slot, being preferably slightly less than the width of the necktie at that point, causes the material of the necktie to be pinch where it passes through the slot, creating the visual feature of traditional neckties commonly referred to as a “dimple”. This pinching also assists in securing the position and tightness of the necktie. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The foregoing aspects and the attendant advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a preferred embodiment slotted necktie in an initial, untied, configuration; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2 a -2 e    depict one set of steps that may be employed to tie the  FIG. 1  embodiment into a typical configuration for wearing; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3 a -3 e    depict an alternative set of steps that may be employed to tie the  FIG. 1  embodiment into a typical configuration for wearing; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an alternative preferred embodiment slotted necktie (one that lacks the traditional “tail”) in an initial, untied, configuration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  depicts the  FIG. 4  embodiment in typical configuration for wearing, wherein the blade has been passed through the slot; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front view of an alternative preferred embodiment in which the slot is oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal centerline of the necktie, rather than being parallel to the centerline. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front view of an alternative preferred embodiment which lacks a tail and in which the slot is set at an angle relative to the longitudinal centerline of the necktie 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a front view of an alternative preferred embodiment having two separate slots. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9 a   ,  FIG. 9 b   ,  FIG. 9 c   ,  FIG. 9 d    and  FIG. 9 e    depict a preferred set of steps to tie the  FIG. 8  embodiment into a typical configuration for wearing; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a front view of an alternative preferred embodiment in which the position of the slot along the longitudinal centerline of the necktie is adjustable, as with, for example, a zipper; 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Reference symbols or names are used in the figures to indicate certain components, aspects or features shown therein. Reference symbols common to more than one Figure indicate like components, aspects or features shown therein. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , preferred embodiments of the slotted necktie will be described. 
         [0023]    There are numerous, non-limiting embodiments of the invention. All embodiments are intended to be non-limiting (that is, there may be other embodiments in addition to these), unless they are expressly described as limiting the scope of the invention. Any of the embodiments described herein can also be combined with any other embodiments to form still other embodiments. 
         [0024]    The term “vertically” when used herein in reference to an orientation of a portion of the necktie relative to the body of the wearer shall refer to an orientation approximately parallel to the vertical midline of the wearer&#39;s chest or spine. When used herein in reference to an orientation relative to the necktie itself, the term “vertically” shall mean approximately parallel to the adjustable centerline of the necktie itself. 
         [0025]    It is noted that, for uniformity, the description of the embodiments of the invention and the manner in which they are donned is made in terms of a traditional donning in which the wearer initially dons the necktie with its wider end situated on the wearer&#39;s left-hand-side. It will be understood that all such descriptions apply equally to wearers who don the tie with the wide end initially to the right, and that any modifications to the design of the embodiments of the invention necessary for such wearers are easily made in the manufacture of the embodiments. 
       The Slotted Necktie 
       [0026]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the necktie is constructed in most respects in one of the forms well known in the art. The length of such a necktie is typically approximately 52-58 inches for men of average height and 60-62 inches for men of substantially above-average height. The necktie has a front side  101  that ordinarily faces outwards from the body of the wearer when the necktie is donned and is typically made of some fabric featuring a color, or printed or woven design intended to be aesthetically pleasing when the necktie is worn in combination with other clothing colors and designs. The back side of the necktie  102  may have the same or a different fabric, color or design. The necktie, again in the traditional manner, has a relatively narrower end  103 , called the “tail” and a relatively wider end  104 , called the “blade”. In the most common forms, the tail and blade each feature a pointed tip. However, in certain designs the tip may have a flat edge or other configuration. As with the relative width of the tail and the blade, the shapes of the tips are determined largely on an aesthetic basis. 
         [0027]    A novel aspect of each embodiment of the invention, as seen in the  FIG. 1  embodiment, is the inclusion of an opening  105  (the “slot”) cut through the material of the body of the necktie at approximately the lengthwise and crosswise midpoint of the necktie and with its longitudinal axis oriented approximately parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the necktie. In some preferred embodiments, the slot opening is in the form of a slit through the body of the necktie. In alternate preferred embodiments, the slot opening is an approximately rectangular region cut or punched out the body of the necktie. 
         [0028]    Whether it is a slit or a rectangle, the slot, preferably, is cut so that the length of its opening is slightly less than the width of the necktie at that point and its width is approximately the same as the thickness of the necktie. The position of the slot  105  may be seen to demark the border between the tail portion  103  and the blade portion  104  of the necktie and where the tail ends, the blade begins. In one preferred embodiment, the slot is positioned so that the length of the blade portion  104  is approximately two-fifths of the overall length of the necktie and the length of the tail portion  103  is approximately three-fifths of the overall length of the necktie. 
         [0029]    The way in which the presence of the slot  105  provides for a novel manner of tying the necktie is shown in  FIGS. 2 a  through 2 e   , which depict one preferred series of steps in which the most simple tying of the slotted necktie may be accomplished. It will be understood that, while these and subsequent related figures depict the necktie as being placed initially on the wearer&#39;s body with the blade portion  104  of the necktie to the wearer&#39;s left, and all structures and steps are described in that manner, all depicted configurations may be mirrored as where the necktie is initially placed with the blade on the wearer&#39;s right and all structures and steps are similarly mirrored. 
         [0030]    In the first step, depicted in  FIG. 2 a   , the tie is donned so that the slot  105  is on that portion of the necktie that is hanging to the wearer&#39;s left, and positioned approximately in front of the wearer&#39;s neck. As depicted in  FIG. 2 b   , the tail  103  is then passed trough the slot  105  from the rear. Because the position of the slot  105  is fixed, the length of the portion of the tail  103  passed through the slot  105  entirely determines how tightly the necktie is tied, and this tightness may be adjusted at any time without affecting any other aspect of the appearance or placement of the necktie. In the third step, depicted in  FIG. 2 c   , the tip of the blade  104  is passed upwards behind the upper portion of the tail  103 . In a fourth step, depicted in  FIG. 2 d   , the tip of the blade is brought forward and downward and passed through the slot  105  in front of (or above) the portion of the tail  103  previously passed through the slot  105 . In the final step, depicted in  FIG. 2 e   , the various segments of the necktie have been pulled into their final configuration and adjusted to fall neatly and so that the necktie presents the traditional dimple at the neck. 
         [0031]    Because the position of the slot  105  is fixed, the length of the portion of the blade  104  that is passed through the slot and which then hangs down in front of the wearer&#39;s torso is also fixed. Because of this, the aesthetic arrangement of the necktie is reliably obtained without the repeated re-orientation and re-tying often required with traditional neckties. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 3 a  through 3 e   , depict an alternative preferred series of steps in which the most simple tying of the slotted necktie may be accomplished. It will be noted that the first and fourth steps are depicted as related to the wearer&#39;s shirt collar in order to provide further context to the depiction. It will be further noted that the necktie depicted in  FIGS. 3 a  to 3 e    features a tail that terminates in a single diagonal cut rather than a more typical point. This is an example of a stylistic variation in the appearance of the necktie that does not affect the functioning of the disclosed embodiments. In the first step, depicted in  FIG. 3 a   , the necktie is wrapped around the wearer&#39;s neck as in  FIG. 2 a   , however in  FIG. 3 b    the tail  103  is passed behind the body of the necktie approximately at the position of the slot  105 , rather than being passed trough the slot  105 . The remainder of the steps proceed essentially as those depicted in  FIGS. 2 c  through 2 e   . In the third step, depicted in  FIG. 3 c   , the tip of the blade  104  is passed upwards behind the upper portion of the tail  103 . In a fourth step, depicted in  FIG. 3 d   , the tip of the blade is brought forward and downward and passed through the slot  105  in front of (or above) the portion of the tail  103  previously passed behind the body of the necktie, trapping the tail  103  and fixing its position. In the final step, depicted in  FIG. 3 e   , the various segments of the necktie have been pulled into their final configuration and adjusted to fall neatly and so that the necktie presents the traditional dimple at the neck. 
         [0033]    It is not possible or desirable to depict here all of the alternative possible methods of tying the slotted necktie of this invention. However, the advantages of the invention will generally be obtained where the final step of the tying consists of passing the blade  104  through the slot  105  from back to front, allowing it to emerge from the slot and fall vertically against the torso. 
       Reinforcement of the Slot 
       [0034]    It is expected that, in most embodiments, the slot  105  will be reinforced in some manner so as to prevent undue wear on the fabric and possible fraying or tearing of the fabric of the necktie adjacent to the slot  105 . In some preferred embodiments, the slot  105  may be reinforced by stitching around its edges in the manner well known in the art to be used as for buttonholes. In alternate preferred embodiments, the slot  105  may be reinforced by the use of a separate insert, grommet or eyelet fixed through the slot. Such separate reinforcement may be made of plastic, metal or other appropriate semi-rigid material, and such material may be chosen to provide an additional aesthetic variation to the appearance of the necktie. In some such embodiments, the separate reinforcement may be detachable and interchangeable by the wearer, and may further provide a connection point for additional aesthetic accessories. 
       The Cropped, Slotted Necktie 
       [0035]    As depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in alternate preferred embodiments, the overall length of the necktie is shortened, or cropped, by the elimination of the tail portion of the necktie. In such embodiments, only a short tab of fabric  203  extends beyond the slot  205  opposite the blade  204 . The tying of such a cropped, slotted necktie can be accomplished simply by passing the blade  204  through the slot  205  and pulling to adjust the tightness as well as the corresponding length of the blade  204  hanging down in front. It should be noted that in this embodiment the slot  205  is positioned further from the tip of the blade portion  204  than in the  FIG. 1  embodiment because, as seen in  FIG. 4 , when the necktie is donned, the slot  205  is part of the portion of the necktie that is hanging to the right of the wearer&#39;s neck, rather than to the left, as it is when the  FIG. 1  embodiment is donned as described above in reference to  FIG. 2 a   . Thus, in this embodiment, the blade portion  204  will preferably account for approximately nine-tenths of the length of the overall tie. 
         [0036]    As seen in  FIG. 5 , when donned, the cropped slotted necktie without a tail achieves a unique aesthetic appearance not present in traditional neckties or in alternate embodiments of this invention. In a cropped slotted necktie, the body of the necktie terminates near the slot  205 , providing a unique finished look. In some preferred embodiments, the cropped end  203  that extends beyond the slot  205  may show at the collar; in alternative preferred embodiments, it may be concealed behind the collar, as decided by the wearer. The length of the cropped end  203  may be varied in manufacture to support these different aesthetic choices, but will typically be from one-half inch to three inches. 
       The Angled-Slot Necktie 
       [0037]    In the preferred methods of tying a slotted necktie, as a segment of the necktie passes through the slot, it is typically folded perpendicular to the slot, changing its orientation from generally horizontal to generally vertical. This may be seen, for example, in  FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b   . As depicted in  FIG. 6 , in some preferred embodiments, the slot  305  is not aligned strictly parallel to the sides of the necktie, but, rather, is set at an acute angle, α, from the longitudinal centerline of the necktie. This angle, α, will preferably be in the range of 15°-30° though in alternative embodiments it may be less than 15° or greater than 30°. By employing an angled slot, the way in which a segment of the necktie transitions from one orientation to another as it is folded upon passing through the slot  305  and its configuration after passing through the slot are varied. In particular, this may result in the tail  303  and the blade  304  obtaining a truer vertical orientation with less manual adjustment required than when the slot is parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the necktie. 
         [0038]    It will be understood that the angled slot may be incorporated into other preferred embodiments independent of the other features of those embodiments. Thus, for example,  FIG. 7  depicts an embodiment featuring both a cropped tail  403  and an angled slot  405 . 
       The Double-Slotted Necktie 
       [0039]    As depicted in  FIG. 8 , alternate preferred embodiments of the invention include two slots  505   a ,  505   b  positioned approximately side-by-side on the body of the necktie and with their longitudinal axes approximately parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the necktie. Such double-slotted necktie may be tied in much the same manner as the  FIG. 1  embodiment, except that the tail portion and the blade portion are passed through separate slots. As depicted in  FIGS. 9 a -9 e    the tying process is much the same as depicted in  FIGS. 1 a -1 e   . In the first step, depicted in  FIG. 9 a   , the tie is donned around the wearer&#39;s neck just as in  FIG. 1 a   . It will be seen that of the two side-by-side slots  505   a  and  505   b , one slot  505   b  is nearer to the tail  503 , which is hanging in front of the other side of the wearer&#39;s chest, and the other slot  505   a  is farther from the tail  503 . In the second step, depicted in  FIG. 9 b   , the tail  503  is passed through slot  505   a , while, in the fourth step, the blade  504  is passed through slot  505   b . It will be noted that, when the tie is donned with the blade  504  and tail  503  on the opposite sides from those depicted in  FIG. 9 a   , the identification and role of the two slots  505   a  and  505   b  as nearer and farther from the tail is reversed. 
         [0040]    The principal functional advantage of the double-slotted embodiment of  FIG. 8  is that, in certain  FIG. 1  embodiments, depending on the thickness of the necktie and the form of the slot, it may be difficult to pass both the tail and the blade through a single slot. The double-slotted embodiment provides a solution to this problem. 
         [0041]    In addition, by varying the relative positions of the slots, novel configurations of the tied necktie may be obtained, wherein the tail is partially visible to one side of the blade, for example. 
       The Adjustable-Slotted Necktie 
       [0042]    In all of the embodiments presented thus far, the position of the slot is fixed at the time of manufacture of the tie. As depicted in  FIG. 10 , however, in another preferred embodiment, the slot  605  may be formed by a grommet, or similar rigid structure, mounted to a conventional zipper mechanism  606 , as is well known in the apparel manufacturing field. By means of this arrangement, the position of a slot can be varied over a predetermined range, providing flexibility to the precise final configuration of the necktie. 
       Independence of Features 
       [0043]    It will be understood that the novel features of other embodiments may be incorporated into the double-slotted necktie independently. For example, the method of reinforcing each of the two slots may be different, one from the other, with one slot being reinforced in the manner of a buttonhole while the other is reinforced with a grommet or similar rigid structure. Similarly, either one of the slots may be at an angle while the other is aligned vertically, or at the same or a different angle from the vertical as compared to the other slot. One or the other slot may be in a fixed position and the other varied using the zipper mechanism.