BUILT-IN CORE BODY IN READY-MADE KNOT OF NECKTIE

Abstract: A built-in core body (l0) for forming a ready-made knot of a necktie, by which a neat knot (4) is easily formed and permanently maintained, comprising an outer shell (ll), a presser member (l2), and a release member (l3). A narrow band (2b) of a tie body (2) is inserted in a channel (l7) formed in the interior of the outer shell (ll) in a double-folded state and the knot (4) is formed around the core body (l0) in a conventional manner. The upward movement of the narrow band (2b) through the core body (l0) is inhibited by the action of the presser member (l2) while the downward movement thereof is free. Upward movement of the narrow band (2b) is allowed when the release member (l3) is operated to release the presser member (l2) from engagement with the narrow band (2b).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a core body to be built-in to a ready-made knot of a necktie, for maintaining a neat shape of the knot and for enabling a narrow band portion of the tie body to easily slide therethrough when putting on or taking off the necktie. 2. Description of the Related Arts A necktie assembly having a ready-made knot according to the preamble of claim 1 is known in the art, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,504,979 granted to the present applicant and issued on March 19, 1985. In the above patent, there is provided a necktie assembly, as shown in Fig. 1, comprising a tie body 2 consisting of wide and narrow bands 2a and 2b longitudinally connected to each other. The narrow band 2b has an interlining (not shown) with a longitudinal slot along at least a portion thereof. A core body 3, as shown in Fig. 2, is provided for forming a ready-made knot 4 in the tie body, having a curved channel 5. The knot 4 is prepared by longitudinally folding a portion of the narrow band 2b along the slot of the interlining and inserting the same into the channel 5 of the core body 3 so that the longitudinally folded state of the band is maintained by frictional engagement with the inner wall of the channel 5. A middle portion of the narrow band 2b is then wrapped around the core body 3 to form two layers on the core body 3, and a free end of the wide band 2a is inserted between the layers, from top to bottom. The wrapped portions of the wide band 2a are fixed to each other by a sewing thread or the like to maintain a good appearance of the knot 4. Before putting on the necktie, a loop formed by tie body 2 is enlarged by pulling the narrow band 2b upward through the core body 3 (in this case, a fastener 7 connecting the loop may be detached). Then the free end of the narrow band 2b is pulled downward through the core body 3 so that the necktie is snugly fitted around the neck. Thereafter, means for securing a length of the narrow band 2b in this position, such as a needle 6, is applied to the length of the narrow band 2b accommodated in the channel of the core body 3, as shown in Fig. 3, which means is inserted in a hole bored through the core body 3. Such means are also disclosed in the above U.S. Patent 4,504,979. The securing means disclosed in the above U.S. Patent, however, has a complicated structure formed of a plurality of members separate from the main part of the core body and is built-in to the core body. Therefore, the total cost for manufacturing and assembling the core body becomes expensive. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement for a core body built-in to a ready-made knot of a necktie, without the drawbacks of the prior art described above. It is another object of the present invention to provide a core body of a type described having a simple structure for fixing a narrow band of a tie body in position and releasing the same therefrom. These objects are achievable, according to the features of claim 1, by a core body comprising an outer shell having a U-shape cross-section, in which the width converges downward, defined by side walls opposed and inclined to each other, and a front wall bridging the side walls. A partition is arranged inside the outer shell parallel to one of the side walls so that a channel having a uniform width is defined in the interior of the outer shell between the one side wall and the partition. A plate-like presser member is pivotably secured in the channel by a pin bridging the partition and the side wall defining the channel, substantially at a right angle, so that the presser member is pivotable about the pin within the channel. The presser member has a predetermined thickness so that a space in the U-shaped cross-section is defined between the inner wall of the channel and the outer surface of the presser member, to accommodate the narrow band of the tie body in the folded state. The presser member has an operating edge confronting the inner surface of the front wall of the core body, which edge is brought into frictional contact with the narrow band, whereby, on one hand, when the narrow band is pulled upward, the presser member is pivoted about the pin so that the lower portion of the operating surface is moved toward the front wall to block the space and prevent the narrow band from passing further upward through the space, and, on the other hand, when the narrow band is pulled downward, the presser member is pivoted in reverse about the pin so that the blocking of the space is released. This pivoting movement is limited by a stop means so that a space remains between the upper portion of the operating surface and the front wall of the outer shell which is large enough to allow the narrow band to pass further upward through the space. In a parallel application (EP 90105000.5) of the same applicant, an arm-like presser member is utilized in place of the plate-like presser, and is associated with a bar-like release member. The core body according to the present invention may be made of a synthetic resin having both rigidity and resiliency, such as ABS resin, so that the outer shell and the presser member are assembled by utilizing an elastic deformation of the outer shell. Accordingly, after the core body has been built-in to the ready-made necktie with the narrow band inserted through the U-shaped space, the narrow band can be freely pulled down to attain the most favorable fitting around a wearer's neck, while an upward pull of the narrow band is effectively inhibited by the braking action of the presser member, whereby unfavorable slack in the necktie during wear can be avoided. When the wearer wish to loosen the necktie, the presser member or the release member is rotated by hand to disengage the presser member from the narrow band, and the narrow band can be then pulled upward while the disengaged state is maintained. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent by the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is an overall view of a necktie with a ready-made knot formed by a core body according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art core body with a narrow band of a tie body inserted in a folded state; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a knot having a prior art core body with a securing means engaged with a narrow band; Figs. 4 through 6 illustrate steps for forming a ready-made knot by utilizing the core body according to the present invention; Fig. 7 is a back view of a core body according to embodiment of the present invention in the assembled state; Fig. 8 is a top view of the core body of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a back view of an outer shell of the core body of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a front view of a presser member of the core body of Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a side view of the presser member of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a top view of the presser member of Fig. 10; and, Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a knot in which the core body according to the second embodiment of the present invention is built-in. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of a core body according to the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 7 through 13. The core body 10 consists of two parts, namely an outer shell 11 and a presser member 12. The outer shell 11 has a U-shaped cross-section defined by a pair of side walls 14a and 14b inclined to each other to form a downward convergence, and a front wall 15 bridging the side walls 14a, 14b. A partition 16 is provided within the interior of the outer shell 11 in parallel to one of the side walls (in this case the side wall 14a) so that an inclined straight channel 17 having a uniform width is formed between the side wall 14a and the partition 16. The presser member 12 comprises a rotatable plate 57 of a predetermined width and having a convexed front edge 58. The plate 57 has a pair of projections 59 in a pin form at the middle region of the respective side surface of the plate 57, which pins 59 are engageable with corresponding apertures 60 of the side wall 14a and the partition 16, respectively, so that the plate 57 is pivoted therebetween with the common axis of the pins 59 being perpendicular across the channel 17 while keeping the posture of the plate 57 in parallel to the side wall 13a and the partition l6. The plate 57 has a laterally extended wall 61 in a triangular form fixedly secured along the back edge of the plate 57, which abuts against the partition l6 when the plate 57 is pivoted counterclockwise in Fig. 13, whereby a gap still remains between the front wall 15 and the front edge 58, which will allow a narrow band of a necktie accommodated in the channel 17, as described later, to pass therethrough. On the other hand, when the plate 57 is pivoted in reverse, the lower part thereof is directly engageable with the front wall 15 so that no gap remains therebetween. Steps for incorporating the core body 10 into a knot of a necktie will be described below, with reference to Figs. 4 through 6. First, a narrow band 2b of a tie body 2 in a longitudinally folded state is inserted in the channel l7 of the outer shell ll prior to assembly with the presser member l2, in the same manner shown with reference to Fig. 2. Then the presser member l2 is mounted to the outer shell ll in such a manner that the plate 57 is sandwiched between halves of the folded narrow band 2b. Accordingly, the narrow band 2b is frictionally engaged with the front edge 58 of the plate 57 and held in the U-shaped space defined between the outer shell ll and the plate 57. Thereafter, a midportion of the tie body 2 is wrapped around the core body l0 to form two layers on the core body l0 (see Figs. 4 and 5), and a free end of the wide band 2a is inserted between the layers from top to bottom (see Fig. 6). The wrapped portions of the wide band 2a forming the knot are fixed to each other by a sewing thread or the like to maintain a good appearance of the knot 4. According to the above structure of the knot 4, if the narrow band 2b is pulled upward through the core body l0, this upward movement of the narrow band 2b causes a clockwise pivoting motion of the presser member l2 in Fig. 13, due to frictional engagement of the plate 57 with the narrow band 2b, and the plate 57 occupies a position depicted by a solid line in Fig. 13 at which the narrow band 2b is securedly nipped between the plate 57 and the front wall l5 of the outer shell ll. Thereby, further upward displacement of the narrow band 2b is immediately prevented and loosening of the necktie is avoided. However, if a pushing force is applied to the upper part of the extended wall 6l to rotate the presser member l2 counterclockwise, the engagement of the presser member l2 with the narrow band 2b is released and the narrow band 2b can be freely pulled upward so long as the pushing force is applied to the extended wall 6l. This is the case when the necktie is put on or taken off. On the contrary, if the narrow band 2b is pulled downward, without the abovesaid pushing force, through the core body l0, the presser member l2 is pivoted counterclockwise in Fig. 13. The laterally extended wall 6l of the plate 57, then abuts against the partition l6 so that a space remains between the front edge 58 of the plate 57 and the outer shell ll, to allow the narrow band 2b to pass therethrough. This is the case when the necktie is adjusted to fit snugly around the wearer's neck. In the embodiment, the core body l0 is completely concealed within the knot 4 and the releasing operation of the presser member l2 is carried out by touch alone. According to the present invention, a knot of a necktie can be neatly formed, and can easily be put-on and taken-off without damaging the shape of the knot. A similar built-in core body in ready-made knot of a necktie is shown in the parallel application EP 90105000.5 of the same Applicant, the disclosure being referred to explicitely.

Claims: A core body to be built-in to a ready-made knot (4) of a necktie (2), comprising; an outer shell (11) having a U-shaped cross-section, a width of which converges downward, defined by side walls (14a,b) opposed and inclined to each other and a front wall (15) bridging the side walls (14a,b); characterized by a partition (16) arranged inside of the outer shell (11) parallel to one (14a) of the side walls (14a,b) so that a channel (17) having a uniform width is defined in the interior of the outer shell (11) between one side wall (14a) and the partition (16); and a plate-like presser member (12) pivotably secured in the channel (17) by a pin (59) bridging the partition (16) and the side wall (14a) defining the channel (17) substantially at a right angle so that the presser member (12) is pivotable about the pin (59) within the channel (17); the presser member (12) being of a predetermined thickness so that a space of a U-shaped cross-section is defined between the inner wall of the channel (17) and the outer surface or the presser member (12), for accommodating the narrow band (2b) of the tie body (2) in the folded state and having an operating edge (58) confronting the inner surface of the front wall (15) of the core body (10), which edge (58) is brought into frictional contact with the narrow band (2b), whereby on one hand, when the narrow band (2b) is pulled upward, the presser member (12) is pivoted about the pin (59) so that the lower portion of the operating surface is pushed toward the front wall (15) to block the space so as to prevent the narrow band (2b) from passing further upward through the space and on the other hand, when the narrow band (2b) is pulled downward, the presser member (12) is pivoted in reverse about the pin (59) so that the blocking of the space is released, which pivoting movement is limited by a stop means so that enough space remains between the upper portion of the operating surface and the front wall (15) of the outer shell (11) to pass the narrow band (2b) further downward through the space. A core body as defined in claim 1, wherein the stop means is a triangular wall (61) laterally extended from a rear edge of the presser member (12). A core body as defined in claim 1, wherein the respective parts of the core body (10) are made of ABS resin.

Inventors: KAWAMURA, HIRONOBU
Applicants: ALPS KAWAMURA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A41D25
IPC codes: A41D25