Abstract:
An extendable collar stay that is substantially flat and adjustable to different lengths depending on the size and shape of the collar with which it is used. The extendable collar stay comprises an elongated body that is configured to fit into a collar pocket, with extensions at either end that can be extended to different lengths.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/451,112, filed Mar. 9, 2011, whose disclosure is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to garment accessories, and more specifically to new and useful improvements in shape-retaining collar devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to collar stays that are extendable, shaped to fit into collar pockets, substantially flat and of simple construction. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Collar stays (also commonly known as “collar stiffeners,” “collar bones,” “collar sticks,” “collar knuckles,” or “collar tabs”) are dress shirt accessories. Collar stays are usually smooth, rigid strips of various materials such as metal or plastic, rounded at one end and pointed at the other, inserted into specially made pockets on the underside of a shirt collar to stabilize the collar&#39;s points. The primary function of the collar stay is to stiffen the collar of a fabric garment, increasing rigidity and preventing the points (corners) from curling, in order to affect a neater and/or more freshly pressed look. Collar stays also help maintain the spread (distance between the points) of a shirt collar, help prevent the shirt collar from slipping outside of a jacket lapel, and help hide the loop of a necktie. 
         [0004]    Historically, stays were sewn, pinned, or inserted into and around collars of men&#39;s and women&#39;s garments. The advent of plastic in the mid-1920s allowed stays to be more effectively sewn permanently inside of the collar. This continues today, but they can also be permanently fused to the collar fabric or affixed using adhesive. Throughout the mid-20th century, removable stays remained popular, incorporating metal wire and sheet material, often integrating springs and pins. During this period, flat, insertable stays made of plastic were common, sometimes with V- and multi-branched shapes. 
         [0005]    Preferably, collar stays should be removable and removed from shirts before dry cleaning or pressing because press-ironing a shirt with the collar stays in place is likely to damage both the shirt and the collar stay, especially if the stay is made of a plastic material that has a tendency to melt. Additionally, pressing a shirt with the collar stays in place results in an impression of the collar stay in the fabric of the collar. Further, it is desirable to have a collar stay that stays in place without the need for pins that pierce and may damage the shirt. Unfortunately, the process of removing the collar stays for cleaning or pressing often results in lost collar stays or collar stays that are mismatched and do not fit the shirt collar. It is therefore also desirable to have an adjustable or extendable collar stay that will fit any shirt collar. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,494,185 discloses an improved shirt collar stiffener of the type adapted to be worn under the turned down portion of the collar and on the point thereof to stretch the cloth and thereby improve the appearance of the collar and to prevent the collar from curling or becoming wrinkled and unkempt. The stiffener of the invention is easily attached or detached and may be varied in length to fit properly under collars of different shapes and depths. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,024 discloses a stay to be disposed within the pocket of a collar for maintaining that collar in properly supported condition by engaging with the ends of the stay the base of the pocket and an inner collar zone surface adjacent the conventional line of fold of the collar, said stay including in combination a pair of flexible members in the form of strips disposed in superimposed relationship, means extending from one strip and slidably engaging and overlapping the other strip to maintain those strips in substantial axial alignment, and one of said strips being under tension transversely of its body to draw surfaces of the strips into frictional engagement with each other, said tension being created incident to said one strip being formed of somewhat resilient material and being longitudinally creased intermediate its side edges, the other strip being substantially flat, whereby said strips will resist relative axial shifting. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved collar stay that is removable, extendable to fit any size shirt collar, shaped to fit into a collar pocket, relatively flat, simple to manufacture, and that does not containing any pins or sharp ends that may pierce and damage the shirt. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an object of the invention to provide an extendable, preferably removable, collar stay that is simple to manufacture. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the invention to provide an extendable collar stay for use with garments, and particularly knitted fabric shirts and dress shirts, wherein the extendable collar stay is shaped to fit into a collar pocket. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an extendable collar stay that is substantially flat. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a collar stay that does not contain any pins or sharp ends that may pierce or damage the shirt. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a collar made of plastic or metal, which may be opaque, translucent or transparent. 
         [0014]    There have thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described further hereinafter. 
         [0015]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and earned out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0016]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may be readily utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that equivalent constructions, insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, be included in the present invention. 
         [0017]    For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the aims attained by its uses, references should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be set forth in detail with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an extendable collar stay according to one embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the extendable collar stay shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a rear plan view of the extendable collar stay shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross section view of the extendable collar stay shown in  FIG. 1  taken along line IV-IV; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross section view of the extendable collar stay shown in  FIG. 1  taken along line V-V; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross section view of the extendable collar stay shown in  FIG. 1  taken along line VI-VI; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the extendable collar stay shown in  FIG. 1  showing alternate positions; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a front plan view of the extendable collar stay shown in  FIG. 1  showing an alternate position; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a front plan view of the extendable collar stay shown in  FIG. 1  showing an alternate position; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a front plan view of the extendable collar stay shown in  FIG. 1  showing an alternate position. 
       
    
    
       [0029]    Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate similar or like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Referring now to the drawings, which are for illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting same,  FIGS. 1-7  show an extendable collar stay  10  according to the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the collar stay  10  comprises an elongated body  20  which defines a generally planar top surface  20   a , and an opposed, generally planar bottom surface  20   b . In the collar stay  10 , the body  20  transitions to a first end portion  12 , which has a generally tapered configuration forming a tip as seen in the figures. An opposed, second end portion  14  of the body  20  is defined by a laterally extending end surface, which is generally perpendicular to the length of body  20 . The transition between the edges of body  20  and the second end portion  14  is preferably generally rounded as shown in the figures. As such, the shape of the collar stay  10  is generally complimentary to the shape of a shirt collar pocket. 
         [0031]    The cape of a shirt collar, particularly in the area of the collar points, tends to curl up after laundering. Manufacturing companies may incorporate pockets, liners, and/or patches into the collar structure to prevent the collar from curling up. In certain more expensive shirts, pockets are sewn into the underside of the collar structure to accommodate collar stays. Collar stays may then be inserted into these pockets to stiffen and maintain the shape of the collar and particularly the collar points. Accordingly, according to a preferred embodiment, the first end portion  12  of the collar stay  10  of the present invention is shaped to fit into the collar point of a shirt when inserted into a pocket of a shirt collar, and the second end portion  14  is blunt and adapted to fit against the neckline without discomfort to the wearer. 
         [0032]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , the body  20  also comprises a head member  16  disposed and spaced generally on top of first end portion  12  and a tail member  18  disposed and spaced generally on the top of second end portion  14 . As best seen in  FIG. 7 , head member  16  and tail member  18  are pivotally connected to first end portion  12  and second end portion  14 , respectively, such that the length of the collar stay  10  can be extended to different lengths as shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . 
         [0033]    The head and tail members,  16 ,  18  are preferably attached to body  20  by a pivot  13  or other suitable means, including but not limited to a rivet, an eyelet, or a pin, that permits the head and tail members,  16 ,  18  to pivot with respect to body  20  such as to extend the head and/or tail members  16 ,  18  of the collar stay  10 . The head and tail members  16 ,  18  are accordingly adapted to be extended into different positions as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 . The pivot  13  is preferably tight so as to hold the head and tail members  16 ,  18  by friction in any position into which they may be extended. Other means of locking or maintaining the position of the head and tail members  16 ,  18  of the collar stay are well known to one of skill in the art. 
         [0034]    The collar stay shown in  FIG. 1  may accordingly be used in alternate positions. As seen in  FIG. 8 , both the head member  16  and the tail member  18  may be extended such as to provide a long collar stay  10 . As seen in  FIG. 9 , only the tail member  18  may be extended to provide a medium length collar stay  10 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , only the head member may be extend to provide a short collar stay  10 . Alternatively, the length of the head and tail members  16 ,  18  may be varied such that extending the head member  16  and/or the tail member  18  results in a collar stay  10  of varying lengths. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the configurations shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , and the lengths of the body  20  and of the head and tail members  16 ,  18  may be varied such that different lengths may be achieved. 
         [0035]    According to a preferred embodiment, the head and tail member  16 ,  18  are disposed on the top surface  20   a  of the body  20 . As a result, the collar stay  10  may be inserted into the complementary pocket of a shirt such that the opposed, generally planar bottom surface  20   b  extends along that side or surface of the shirt collar that would normally be presented for outward appearance, the absence of either the head member  16  or tail member  18  on such bottom surface  20   b  thereby eliminates the appearance of any bumps or surface irregularities on the visible surface of the shirt collar. Along these lines, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the head member  16  and tail member  18  may be positioned on the bottom surface  20   b  rather than the top surface  20   a  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0036]    The collar stay  10  of the present invention is preferably made of a stiff but flexible material such as plastic or metal material and of a thickness which imparts a suitable level of flexibility thereto, though materials other than plastic and metal are contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. By way of example, such materials may include white PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic as well as clear polyester, nylon, and PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Stainless steel and brass are also contemplated as well as silver-, gold-, and rhodium-plating; solid silver; gold; copper; nickel; titanium; beryllium; and platinum. The collar stay  10  may also be made of natural materials such as mother of pearl, ivory, bone, and horn, as well as petroleum-based resins. 
         [0037]    According to a preferred embodiment, the collar stay  10  of the present invention is preferably between about 0.4 mm to about 0.9 mm thick and between about ⅛″ and ½″ wide, more preferably between about ⅜″ and ¼″ wide. Further, the collar stay  10  of the present invention is preferably extendable to 2″, 2½″ and 3″. According to another preferred embodiment, the collar stay  10  of the present invention may also be extendable to 2″, 2¾″ and 3″ or any length between 1½″ to 4¾″. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the shape of the body  20  of the collar stay  10  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. 
         [0038]    According to another preferred embodiment, the collar stay  10  of the present invention may include a company&#39;s or manufacturer&#39;s name and/or logo marked by hot-stamping and pad-printing in various colors in the case of a plastic material or engraved by laser in the case of a metal material. Alternatively, the collar stay  10  may also be customized to include monograms, names, special dates, or sayings. 
         [0039]    In operation, the typical collar stay  10  is located in a cooperating pocket (not shown). The removable collar stay  10  is formed such that it can be received by the pocket. In such a construction, the collar stay  10  is inserted in the cooperating pocket to extend from the neckline, or in proximity of the neckline, toward the tip of the collar to maintain an unwrinkled and unbent appearance. 
         [0040]    Having now described a few embodiments of the invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. Numerous modifications and other embodiments are within the scope of the invention and any equivalent thereto. It can be appreciated that variations to the present invention would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the present invention is intended to include those alternatives. 
         [0041]    Further, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to as falling within the scope of the invention.