Abstract:
A slip resistant collar stay resistant to shifting positions in its cooperating pocket when the garment in which it is used is worn. The slip resistant collar stay comprises an elongate body and a slip resistant element disposed thereon, wherein the slip resistant element is provided on at least one surface of the elongate body of the collar stay.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/105,680 filed Oct. 15, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Technical Field 
         [0004]    The present disclosure relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in shape retaining collar devices, and more particularly to slip resistant collar stays which enable a collar to maintain a neat and somewhat unbent position but nevertheless a natural looking position with respect to the remaining portion of the garment. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    The use of collar stays with shirts, and particularly knitted fabric shirts and dress shirts, is well known in the garment industry. Typical collar stays are either plastic or metal and have a tapered lower end. Moreover, collar stays are typically straight elements with smooth coplanar surfaces. 
         [0007]    In operation, the typical collar stay is located in a cooperating pocket. In some shirt constructions, the cooperating pocket is imbedded within the collar to permanently house the collar stay. In other shirt constructions, the pocket is formed such that it can removeably receive the collar stay. In such a construction, the collar stay is inserted in the cooperating pocket to extend from the neckline, or in proximity to the neckline, toward the tips of the collar to maintain an unwrinkled and unbended appearance. 
         [0008]    Despite the use of collar stays with collars, it is not uncommon, when the garment is worn, for the collar stay to shift position within its cooperating pocket, or slip completely out of its cooperating pocket. The smooth surfaces of the collar stay generate insufficient resistance to movement and the collar stay can easily shift positions in its cooperating pocket. This is particularly the case when the collar stay substantially exceeds the length of its cooperating pocket. Currently known collar stays, though being suitable to maintain the shirt collar in a substantially unwrinkled and unbended form, are not outfitted with any feature which restricts the collar stay from shifting position within its cooperating pocket, or inadvertently falling out of the pocket. 
         [0009]    In dress shirts, collar stays have been known to slip completely out of the pocket, particularly when the shirt is unbuttoned and the collar is not cinched tightly around the neck. As identified above, currently known collar stays, though being suitable to maintain the shirt collar in an unbended form, are not outfitted with any feature which restricts the movement of the collar stay relative to its cooperating pocket. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved collar stay that is resistant to shifting positions in its cooperating pocket or falling therefrom when the garment is being worn. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a slip resistant collar stay that is resistant to shifting positions in its cooperating pocket when the garment is worn. The slip resistant collar stay comprises an elongate element with a front side and a back side. A slip resistant material is disposed on at least the front side of the element. The slip resistant material increases the coefficient of friction between the slip resistant collar stay and its cooperating pocket, thus eliminating or minimizing the movement of the collar stay relative to its cooperating pocket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These, as well as other features of the embodiment of the present disclosure, will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a slip resistant collar stay constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the slip resistant collar stay shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the slip resistant collar stay shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0015]    Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same,  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  depict a slip resistant collar stay  1  constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the collar stay  1  comprises an elongate body  10  which defines a generally planar top surface  10   a,  and an opposed, generally planar bottom surface  10   b . The body  10  also defines an opposed pair of longitudinally extending side edges  16   a,    16   b  disposed in spaced, generally parallel relation to each other. 
         [0017]    In the collar stay  1 , the side edges  16   a,    16   b  of the body  10  transition to a first end portion  12  of the body  10  which has a generally tapered configuration and terminates at an apex  13 . An opposed, second end portion  14  of the body  10  is defined by a laterally extending end surface  15  which extends generally perpendicularly between the side edges  16   a,    16   b.  The transition between the end surface  15  and the side edges  16   a,    16   b  is preferably defined by a pair of rounded corner regions  16 . 
         [0018]    The body  10  of the collar stay  1  is preferably fabricated from a plastic material of a thickness which imparts a suitable level of flexibility thereto, though materials other than for a plastic material are contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the shape of the body  10  of the collar stay  1  as described above is exemplary only, and that alternative shapes for the body  10  are contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]    As best seen in  FIG. 1 , in addition to the body  10 , the collar stay  1  of the present invention comprises a slip resistant feature  20  which is disposed on at least the top surface  10   a  of the body  10 . In the embodiment of the collar stay  1  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the slip resistant feature  20  comprises three elongate protuberances or projections  22  which are disposed on the top surface  10   a  in spaced, generally parallel relation to each other, and are further arranged so as to extend angularly (e.g., at approximately a 45° angle) between the side edges  16   a,    16   b.    
         [0020]    It is contemplated that each of the projections  22  will be fabricated from a slip resistant material such as rubber, though the present invention is not intended to be limited to any specific material for the projections  22 . Additionally, it is contemplated that the projections  22  will project outwardly relative from the top surface  10   a  at a suitable distance which provides the desired non-slip effect for the collar stay  1  relative to the garment pocket in which it is positioned. In the collar stay  1 , the slip resistant feature  20 , and in particular the projections  22 , are preferably provided on only the top surface  10   a  of the body  10 . As a result, the collar stay  1  may be inserted into the complimentary pocket of the garment such that the opposed, generally planar bottom surface  10   b  extends along that side or surface of the garment collar which would normally be presented for outward appearance, the absence of any projections  22  on such bottom surface  10   b  thereby eliminating the appearance of any bumps or surface irregularities on the visible surface of the garment collar. Along these lines, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the projections  22  may be positioned on the bottom surface  10   b  rather than the top surface  10   a  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, since the top and bottom surfaces  10   a,    10   b  are mirror images of each other. The projections  22  may comprise separate and distinct elements which are attached to the body  10  through the use of a suitable adhesive, including an adhesive tape or other suitable means for bonding two items to each other. 
         [0021]    Though not shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will further recognize that each of the projections  22  may be provided in a number less than or greater than the three projections  22  shown in  FIG. 1  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, the projections  22  may be provided in alternative shapes or sizes than shown in  FIG. 1  (e.g., circular) without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, the projections  22  having the size and shape depicted in  FIG. 1  may be extended generally perpendicularly between the side edges  16   a,    16   b,  rather than angularly therebetween. 
         [0022]    In addition to the foregoing, it is further contemplated that the slip resistant feature  20  may alternatively take form of a uniform non-slip coating or surface treatment which is applied to cover the entirety of the top and/or bottom surfaces  10   a,    10   b  of the body  10  of the collar stay  1 . As will recognized, such a uniform coating would, in large measure, eliminate the need to orient the collar stay  1  in its complementary pocket in a prescribed manner as may be desirable if the projections  22  are included for the reasons described above. 
         [0023]    This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.