Neckwear restraining device and method

Restraining devices for neck apparel, such as a necktie, for attaching an item of neck apparel in place on the shirt of a person wearing an item of neck apparel are provided, the shirt being of a type having a plurality of buttons spaced along its front. The restraining device comprises an elongate, flexible cord having a first button loop formed at a first end of the cord and a second button loop formed at a second end of the cord opposite the first end. The first and second button loops are adapted to releasably engage adjacent ones of the plurality of shirt buttons. In a further aspect, methods of securing a neck apparel device to a shirt are also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a removable necktie restraining device for retaining a necktie or other neck apparel item in a substantially centered, straight-down position. While the present invention will be shown and described herein primarily by way of reference to long, straight ties of a type worn with a folded down shirt collar, e.g., four-in-hand ties, it will be recognized that the present invention may also be used in conjunction with scarves or other articles of neck apparel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, a neck apparel restraining device for attaching an item of neck apparel in place on the shirt of a person wearing an item of neck apparel is provided, the shirt being of a type having a plurality of buttons spaced along its front. The restraining device comprises an elongate, flexible cord having a first button loop formed at a first end of the cord and a second button loop formed at a second end of the cord opposite the first end. The first and second button loops are adapted to releasably engage adjacent ones of the plurality of shirt buttons.

In a second aspect, a method of securing a neck apparel item to a shirt having a plurality of spaced-apart button includes providing an item of neck apparel of a type having at least a portion to be worn in a centered position, the item of neck apparel further including a loop member defining an opening and placing a restraining device through the loop member, the restraining device comprising an elongate and flexible cord. A first button loop is formed at a first end of the cord, and a second button loop is formed at a second end of the elongate flexible cord opposite the first end. The first button loop is removably attached to a first button on the shirt, the first button being the most proximate button on the shirt to the first button loop. The second button loop is removably attaching the second button loop to a second button on the shirt, the second button being the most proximate button on the shirt to the second button.

In a third aspect, a necktie restraining device for attaching a necktie in place on the shirt of a person wearing a necktie, the shirt being of a type having a plurality of buttons spaced along its front, the necktie being of a type having a tie loop formed on an inward facing surface thereof. The restraining device comprises an elongate elastic cord, a first button loop formed at a first end of the cord, and a second button loop formed at a second end of the cord opposite the first end. The first and second button loops are adapted to releasably engage adjacent ones of the plurality of shirt buttons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like components throughout the several views, there appears inFIGS. 1–5a neck apparel restraining device10of the present invention. The neckwear restraining device10is particularly adapted for use with a necktie12, e.g., a so-called four-in-hand tie, although scarves or other neck wear items are contemplated as well. In the preferred embodiment, the necktie12is of the type including a wide tail14, a narrow tail16, and a loop member18secured to or otherwise formed on an inward facing surface22of the wide tail14to define an opening or passage24.

The loop member18may be, for example, a label or a cloth member which is generally sewn or otherwise fastened to the inward surface22the wide tail14. The narrow tail16of the necktie12may be passed through the opening24defined by the loop member18. In the depicted embodiment, the loop member18extends transversely with respect to the long axis of the necktie12, and may be secured to the necktie inward surface22at the transversely spaced apart ends26via stitching28or other means. Alternatively, the loop member18may form a complete loop of material sewn or otherwise attached to the inward surface22at a single, centrally located point.

The tie restraining device10is formed of an elongate, flexible cord20, most preferably an elastic, stretchable, and or resilient cord, and includes a main body portion30and first and second button loops32formed at opposite ends of the main body30. The button loops32define apertures or openings34which are sized and spaced to receive adjacent shirt buttons40.

The elastic cord forming the device10may be formed of one or more strands of an elastic material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, and may be covered with a cloth material, e.g., an elastic, stretchable, or woven cloth material, or the like. Advantageously, the elastic cord material may be of a type commonly employed in the manufacture of elastic bands for securing or retaining ponytails. The elastic cord may have a diameter of from about 1/16 inch to about ⅛ inch, although cords of other diameters may be employed.

The button loops32are formed by securing each of the ends38of the cord forming the article10to the main body30with a fastener36. The cord ends38are secured at a position to create the button openings34of appropriate dimension44to removably receive a shirt button40therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, the opening34has a dimension44of about 0.5 inches extending in the longitudinal direction of the article10, although other dimensions are contemplated.

As best seen inFIG. 5, each of the button loops32adapted to be removably secured to a shirt button may be made up of the first and second runs33and35of the elastic cord20, which are interconnected in side-by-side manner by the clamp or clasp36, for example, a metal band or clamp encircling the two runs33and35which may form a generally nonremovable attachment of the two runs by crimping or squeezing the fastener36. The run35terminates at end38at or near the fastener36. The run33continues through the fastener36and further includes an extension or trailing end50. The trailing end50of the first loop32is contiguous with the trailing end50of the second loop32, thereby defining main body portion30of the device10.

In the depicted embodiment, the fasteners36are depicted as metal clasps or clamps of a type which may be crimped to nonreleasably secure the cord ends38to the main body portion30. However, other types of fasteners may also be employed, including permanent adhesives, wire clamps, threads, strands or wires tightly wrapped around the cord ends38and the main body portion30to firmly secure the same, and the like.

The article10may be of any dimension46, and is preferably dimensioned to be equal to or, preferably, greater than a standard or typical uniform button spacing48commonly found on shirts. In certain embodiments, the article10has a dimension46which is about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches greater than the button spacing. Thus, for example, in the case of a typical uniform button spacing of about 3.25 to about 3.5 inches, a preferred dimension46may be about 3.75 to about 5 inches, most preferably about 4.25 inches.

In operation, the necktie restraining device10is passed through the opening24, as best seen inFIGS. 2 and 3. Buttons40are then passed through openings34defined by the button loops32to removably secure the device10.

As shown in greater detail in the fragmentary side view ofFIG. 4, the neck apparel restraining device10is disposed vertically, generally in axial alignment with the necktie12and the row of buttons40of the shirt42of the wearer. The restraining device10slidably engages the loop member18which is attached to the rearward or inward facing surface22of the wide tail14of the of the necktie12. The narrow tail16of the necktie12is also received through the passage24.

Again, the apparel restraining device10includes two button loops32on opposite ends of the device for releasably engaging the restraining device with adjacent uniformly spaced apart shirt fastening buttons40. As stated above, it is preferable that the distance46be greater than the distance48between the buttonholes40. The sliding engagement between the loop member18and the main body portion30of the device10allows movement of the necktie12relative to the buttons40and device10in the long direction of the tie, i.e., the vertical direction in the orientation shown. Furthermore, the elasticity of the device10allows the device to stretch, thereby providing an additional range of motion or give when movements of the wearer so demand. Thus, even after the loop member18has reached an end of its range of travel with respect to the device10, the elasticity of the device10allows additional elongation of the device10, thereby providing additional comfort to the wearer while the tension of the elastic cord retains the tie in the desired centered and straight down position.

Referring now toFIG. 6, there is shown an alternative a necktie restraining device10′ of the present invention. The necktie restraining device10′ includes an elastic cord20of a type described above forming a peripheral loop and having button loops32aand32bformed at opposite ends thereof and defining openings34aand34b, respectively. The loops32aand32bare formed by fasteners36aand36b, respectively, which are crimped or clamped onto the peripheral cord forming the device10′, thereby defining a main body portion30′ therebetween, with the fasteners36badditionally securing the cord ends38and39together.

The loop32aof the device10′ includes first and second runs33aand35a, respectively, of the elastic cord and which are nonremovably interconnected in side-by-side manner by the fasteners36a. The runs33aand35apass through the end of the fastener36aproximate the loop32aand trailing ends50aand51extend from the opposite end of the fastener36a.

The loop32bof the device10′ includes first and second runs33band35b, respectively, of the elastic cord and which are nonremovably interconnected in side-by-side manner by the fasteners36b. The run33bterminates at end38within the fastener36b. The run35bpasses through the end of the fastener36bproximate the loop32band trailing end50bextends from the opposite end of the fastener36and is contiguous with the trailing end50a, thereby forming a first strand of the main body portion30′. The trailing end51of the run33aterminates at an end39which is brought into proximity with the end38to define a peripheral loop. The end39is nonremovably secured to both end38and run35bvia the fastener36.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. For example, it will be recognized that the neck apparel restraining device10of the present invention is not limited to neckties and/or neck apparel with permanently attached loop members18and the device10may be used with tie clips, scarf clips, or like device forming a passage through which the device10may pass prior to securing the device10to shirt buttons of the wearer. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.