A lapel stiffener includes a stiffener strip and a peel-off label. A pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to one side of the stiffener strip. The peel-off label is applied over the pressure sensitive adhesive. The peel-off label is removed and the pressure sensitive adhesive is pressed on to an inside surface of a lapel. A second embodiment of the lapel stiffener includes the stiffener strip, a strip retainer pocket and a strip storage pocket. The strip retainer pocket is formed by securing a strip of material behind a lapel to receive the stiffener strip. The strip storage pocket is formed on a bottom of the lapel. A third embodiment of the lapel stiffener preferably includes the stiffener strip and a strip retainer cavity. The strip retainer cavity is formed by securing a strip of material behind a lapel. The strip retainer cavity surrounds the stiffener strip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the appearance of open shirts and more specifically to a lapel stiffener, which allows a top unbuttoned garment to have a crisp appearance.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,422 to Gibson discloses a collar stiffening device and method. The Gibson patent includes a collar stiffening means comprising a base with two surfaces wherein the base has depicted upon one of its two surface one or more geometric shapes and upon the other its two surfaces, an adhesive with a removably affixed cover so that the adhesive side of the case can be pressed upon the underside of a collar for stiffening thereof. Design Pat. No. D507,205 to Bier et al. discloses a collar stay. Patent application no. 2009/0038049 to West discloses a collar stay device. The West patent application includes a stay body having a tapered first end and an expandable second end. The stay body includes first and second legs, which are integrally formed at the tapered first end and diverge toward the expandable second end. At least one of the legs includes a plurality of protrusions on an outer surface of a free end thereof.

Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a lapel stiffener, which supports a portion of lapels located below the collar to provide a crisp appearance to a garment, such as a shirt, zippered sweater, jacket or fleece, when the buttons below the collar are unbuttoned or the zipper is pulled partially downward.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lapel stiffener, which allows a top unbuttoned garment to have a crisp appearance. The lapel stiffener preferably includes a stiffener strip and a peel-off label. A pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to one side of the stiffener strip. The peel-off label is applied over the pressure sensitive adhesive. The stiffener strip has a width that is substantially the distance between an outside edge of a lapel and a button slit in the lapel of a shirt. A length of the stiffener strip is preferably the distance from the collar of the shirt to substantially a second button slit. In use, the peel-off label is removed from the stiffener strip and the pressure sensitive adhesive is pressed on to an inside surface of the lapel. The lapel stiffener is applied to both a button slit lapel and a button lapel of the shirt.

A second embodiment of the lapel stiffener preferably includes the stiffener strip, a strip retainer pocket and a strip storage pocket. The strip retainer pocket is preferably formed by sewing a strip of material behind a lapel of a shirt. The stiffener strip retainer pocket is sized to receive the stiffener strip. The strip retainer pocket is preferably formed from the collar to substantially a second button slit. The strip storage pocket is preferably formed on a bottom of the button lapel of the shirt to store the stiffener strips when not in use.

A third embodiment of the lapel stiffener preferably includes the stiffener strip and a strip retainer cavity. The strip retainer cavity is preferably formed by sewing a strip of material behind a lapel of a shirt. The strip retainer cavity is preferably formed a distance from the collar to substantially a second button slit. The stiffener strip cavity surrounds a perimeter of the stiffener strip. The strip retainer cavity is formed behind both lapels of the shirt. Button openings are formed through the stiffener strip, such that a button may be inserted through the button slit.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lapel stiffener, which supports a portion of the lapels located below the collar to provide a crisp appearance to a garment such as a shirt, zippered sweater, jacket or fleece, when buttons below the collar are unbuttoned or the zipper is pulled partially downward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly toFIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a shirt100with a lapel stiffener1applied thereto. With reference toFIG. 2, the lapel stiffener1includes a stiffener strip10and a peel-off label12. A pressure sensitive adhesive14is applied to one side of the stiffener strip10. The peel-off label12is applied over the pressure sensitive adhesive14. The stiffener strip10is preferably fabricated from a stiff yet flexible material, such as a typical stay plastic. The stiffener strip10has a width that is substantially the distance between outside edge of a button slit lapel102and a button slit104,106in the button slit lapel102of the shirt100. A length of the stiffener strip is preferably the distance from a collar105of the shirt100to a second button slit106. In use, the peel-off label12is removed from the stiffener strip10and the pressure sensitive adhesive14is pressed on to an inside surface of the button slit lapel102and a second stiffener strip10is applied to an inside surface of a button lapel103of the shirt100.

With reference toFIGS. 3-4, a second embodiment of the lapel stiffener2preferably includes the stiffener strip10, a strip retainer pocket16and a strip storage pocket18. The strip retainer pocket16is preferably formed by securing a strip of material20on an inside surface of the button slit lapel102and the button lapel103of the shirt100. The strip retainer pocket16is sized to receive the stiffener strip by insertion through a pocket opening22. The strip retainer pocket16is preferably formed from the collar105to substantially the second button slit106. The strip of material20is preferably a fabric material. The strip of material20is preferably sewn to the lapels102,103, but could be attached with any appropriate method, such as adhesive or heat bonding.

The strip storage pocket18is preferably formed by securing the strip of material20to a bottom of the button lapel103and/or the button slit lapel102. The strip storage pocket18stores at least one stiffener strip10from the strip retainer pockets16. The at least one stiffener strip10is inserted into the strip storage pocket18through a pocket opening24.

With reference toFIGS. 5-6, a third embodiment of the lapel stiffener3preferably includes a stiffener strip26and a strip retainer cavity28. The strip retainer cavity28is preferably formed by securing a strip of material30on an inside surface of the button slit lapel102and the button lapels103of the shirt100and around a perimeter of the stiffener strip26. The strip retainer cavity28is preferably formed from the collar105to substantially the second button slit106. The strip of material30is preferably a fabric material. The strip of material30is preferably sewn to the lapels102,103, but could be attached with any appropriate method, such as adhesive or heat bonding. Button openings32are formed through the stiffener strip26and the strip of material30, such that a button108may be inserted through the button slits104,106.