AN EXTENDED USE-LIFE IMPROVED TIE

Abstract: An extended use-life improved tie comprises a first tie flap (2) made of an impermeable and flexible material operatively coupled to a rigid element (3), said rigid element being coupled to one or more tie flap (4, 5) having end portions (6, 7) which can be coupled to one another.

Description: Description AN EXTENDED USE-LIFE IMPROVED TIE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an extended use-life improved tie. As is known, a tie is a garment accessory article which is broadly used by men. A tie conventionally comprises a single cloth sheet element having a cross size which varies along the tie length. This tie forming sheet element or flap is usually made of silk, wool or other fabric materials and is conventionally provided with a lot of patterns and colors. Prior ties, on the other hand, are affected by several drawbacks. In fact, to be properly worn, prior ties require a lot of complex manual operations, to be performed in front of a mirror. Moreover, during the day, a tie knot tends to loose, thereby forcing the user to perform periodical control or monitoring operations in order to adjust the proper position of said tie knot. Moreover, prior ties are susceptible to be anti-aesthetically creased, because of the varying positions of the tie user. That same drawback occurs upon a long use of the tie. In this case, said tie, at the knotting portion thereof, is undesirably creased or wrinkled, thereby preventing good aesthetic effects from being obtained. A further drawback is that the tie is very difficult to be properly cleaned, in a case of an accidental stain, since the fabric material used for making the tie must be usually dry-cleaned. Actually, a stain on the tie would cause objectable aesthetic drawbacks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks . For achieving the above mentioned aim, the invention specifically relates to an improved tie, which has been designed for a long duration use-life, which can be easily fitted to the user neck, as a low cost, anti-creasing features and, moreover, can be quickly and simply cleaned. According to the present invention, an improved tie, specifically designed for a long duration use-life, comprises a first tie flap made of an impermeable and flexible material, said first tie flap being operatively coupled to a rigid element, said rigid element being in turn coupled to one or more flaps having end portions which can be coupled to one another. The improved tie according to the invention is characterized by the characterizing features defined in Claim 1. This improved tie provides the following main advantages. The tie can be fitted to the user neck in a very simple and quick manner, and it will hold its proper fitted arrangement through the overall day. Moreover, the subject tie will have always a very good aesthetic aspect, even if it is stored in a case, and this owing to the material designed for making it . Moreover, the tie is very useful in a journey application. Furthermore, the subject tie can be easily and quickly cleaned, by simply using water and soap, and it can be easily dried by any suitable type of cloth piece. Since the subject tie is made of an xmpermeable material, it can be easily washed without damaging the tie. Finally, the making cost of the subject tie is very small owing to the easy availability of the used materials. In addition, the subject tie can be easily coloured and decorated by screen printing methods , allowing to reproduce on the tie material a lot of different phantasy patterns . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the improved tie according to the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred embodiment thereof, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, in the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the improved extended use-life tie according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a detail of the tie according to the invention; Figure 3 is a further partial rear perspective view of the tie according to the invention: Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the tie shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a further front perspective view of that same tie; Figure 6 is another exploded perspective view illustrating a further embodiment of the subject xmproved tie; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a tie knot being formed; Figure 8 is a partially broken away view illustrating the tie knot of the tie shown in Figure 6; and Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the subject tie taken substantially at an edge portion thereof. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the xmproved tie 1, which is specifically suitable for a long duration use-life, comprises a first tie flap 2, which is advantageously made of an xmpermeable and flexible material, for example a rubber or rubber-like copolymeric material, or a woven or non-woven material, coupled with a rubber or rubber polymeric material. Said first tie flap 2, which can be coloured and have any desired fancy pattern, has a polygonal configuration symmetrical along the longitudinal axis thereof, and having a variable width. At an end portion thereof, said first tie flap 2 is provided with two holes 9 designed for coupling said tie flap 2 to a rigid central element 3, preferably made of a plastic material. The central element 3 has the shape of a conventional tie knot, is allow in its inside and comprises two projecting elements 8, shaped as small cones, and necessary for coupling with the holes 9 of the first tie flap 2. In this connection it should be apparent that the element 3 could be provided with graphic patterns like those of the tie flap 2, for meeting any desired chromatic requirements. To said element 3 are operatively coupled two flaps 4 and 5, of substantially rectangular configuration and having a width less than that of the first tie flap 2, thereby said flaps 4 and 5 can be easily engaged under the collar of a shirt. Said flaps 4, 5, which are preferably, but not necessarily, made of the same material forming the first tie flap 2, are coupled to said central element 3 by glueing or by any other mechanical equivalent means. Said flaps also comprise mechanical means for connecting said flaps to one another thereby allowing the tie 1 to be fitted on the user shirt. More specifically, said mechanical means can comprise a plurality of buttons 6 and corresponding buttonholes 7 , respectively made on the flap 4 and flap 5, or vice-versa. By changing the button 6 engaged on a given buttonhole 7, it is possible to fit said tie 1 to the user neck, in a very simple manner. Alternately, at the free-end portions of said flaps 4 and 5, it would be also possible to provide non-woven fabric portions 10, of a reversible joining type, designed for allowing said flaps 4, 5 to be easily coupled to one another. Alternately, the flaps 4, 5 can be replaced by a single flap, coupled, at the central portion thereof, to said element 3, by glueing or any like coupling means . Said flap is moreover provided, at its end portions, with the same mutual joining mechanical means . The configuration and shape of the elements forming the subject tie, can vary depending on requirements, without departing from the scope of the invention. The use of the subject tie 1 would be self- evident from the preceding disclosure. Actually, after having coupled the projecting elements 8 of the central element 3 to the holes 9 of the flap 2, the collar of the shirt will be upward raised, to allow the flaps 4 and 5 to be coupled at the rear thereof by the coupling means 6, 7 or 10. Then, the collar of the shirt will be lowered again. The thus fitted tie 1, owing to its features, will always be held in a desired fitting arrangement . If the tie is accidentally stained, then the tie flap 2 can be immediately washed by simply using water and soap, and then it can be dried by using a dry cloth piece. Thus, the tie 1 will be recovered to a perfectly clean and ordered condition. According to the embodiment shown in figures 6 to 9, the improved tie, herein generally indicated by the reference number 1 ' , comprises an elongated tie flap 10, also made of a flexible xmpermeable material such as rubber, rubber polymeric compounds, woven or non-woven materials coupled to rubber or rubber polymeric compounds , which flap can bear thereon any desired fancy patterns or colours. The elongated flap 10, in particular, is provided for coupling with a middle element 11, having a substantially T-shape body, in order to define a first and second legs 12 and 13, opposite to one another and adapted to be folded onto one another, thereby defining that portion of the tie knot facing the elongated flap 10. A stem 14 is moreover provided to be folded to define a loop arrangement for joining the first and second legs, by a joining pin elements 15, also adapted to connect the elongated flap 10. The middle element is so folded as to define a tie knot configuration which is made very stable by the coupling pin 15. The bridging element defined by said stem 14 will allow a strip-like element 20 to be easily engaged therein, said strip-like element being provided, at the end portions thereof, with tearable web portions for providing a desired connection. From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and, in particular, by using flexible and impermeable materials, it is possible to provide a configuration like that of a conventional tie, while providing the possibility of including any types of desired fancy patterns and colours, while providing a tie having a nearly infinite duration. Alternately, the knot or central element 3 can be made of a rubber or plastics material, either molded or cured, to easily connect it to one or more flaps constituting the body of the subject tie.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An extended use-life improved tie, characterized in that said tie comprises a first tie flap ( 2 ) made of an impermeable and flexible material, said first tie flap being operatively coupled to a rigid element (3), said rigid element (3) being coupled to one or more flaps (4, 5) having end portions which can be coupled to one another. 2. An extended use-like improved tie according to Claim 1, characterized in that said first tie flap (2) has a polygonal configuration having a longitudinal symmetry and a varying width, and being provided at one end thereof with two holes (9). 3. An extended use-like improved tie according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said rigid element (3) is made in the shape of a tie knot, and has a hollow inside and being provided with two cone-shape projecting elements (8) for coupling with said holes (9) provided on said first tie flap (2 ) . 4. An extended use-like improved tie according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tie comprises two flaps (4, 5), said flaps being mechanically coupled at one end thereof to said rigid element (3) and, at a free end thereof being provided with mechanical coupling means . 5. An extended use-like improved tie according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tie comprises a tie flap mechanically coupled, at a central portion thereof, to said rigid element (3), said end portions being provided with said mechanically coupling means. 6. An extended use-like improved tie according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mechanical coupling means comprise a plurality of buttons (6) and corresponding buttonholes ( 7 ) , or one or more non-woven fabric portions (10) of a reversible coupling type. 7. An extended use-like improved tie according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flaps (2, 4, 5) are made of a rubber material or a rubber like material, or a woven or non-woven material, and being coupled to a rubber material or a rubber-like material, and said central element (3) being made of a plastics and/or rubber material. 8. An improved tie according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said central element (3) forming said tie knot can be directly molded or cured on the flaps of the tie body. 9. An extended use-like improved tie according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tie comprises an elongated flap (10) made of an impermeable and flexible material and operatively coupled to a middle element (11) which can be folded for simulating a tie knot and defining a passage for a strip like element (20) which can be closed on itself. 10. An improved tie according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said middle element comprises a sheet element having a substantially T shape. 11. An improved tie according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said V-shape body is provided with a pair of opposite legs which can be folded onto one another to define a bottom portion of said tie knot and a foldable stem provided for forming a loop for allowing said strip element to pass therethrough, said folded stem and legs being coupled by a coupling pin provided for connecting said elongated flap. 12. An improved tie according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip-like element is provided, at the end portions thereof, with tearable web portions. 13. An improved tie, specifically designed for a long duration life-use, characterized in that said tie comprises a plurality of elements specifically designed, arranged and associated and substantially as broadly disclosed and illustrated and for the intended aim.

Inventors: DE LUCA STEFANO, DE LUCA, STEFANO
Applicants: LUCA STEFANO DE, DE LUCA, STEFANO
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A41D25
IPC codes: A41D25