Abstract:
A necktie knot cover has two straps, one to go around the neck and the other to receive a tie. The cover provides an easy way to show color contrast on the wearer and a more sophisticated look.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/081,068, filed Nov. 18, 2014, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to neckties. More specifically, the present invention relates to necktie knot covers. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In the fashion industry, designers work tirelessly to set themselves apart from the competition. Often, the designers are limited to a generally universal fabric shape, and so they distinguish themselves by designing unique patterns for those shapes. For example, the male necktie has remained largely unchanged since its inception. Fabric types and thicknesses have changed, but the concept has remained the same. Therefore, necktie designers have relied on the printed or woven patterns to set their products apart from one another, each new pattern requiring a new necktie. To date, there has not been an easy and economical device to retrofit existing ties in order to include multiple patterns or simplify the tying process. 
         [0006]    There have been multiple attempts to change the necktie from the traditional look, but the field suffers from many limitations. One possible solution is to provide a necktie knot cover, which covers the necktie knot and allows for the knot cover to be a different color, fabric, or pattern from the necktie knot. However, the prior art necktie knot covers either require a special necktie to be compatible with the knot cover, or the cover requires folding the necktie in a way that the necktie is not intended to be folded (such as along the width). Some designers have done away with the knot cover and designed a necktie which consists of patterns changing at the neck. However, these all suffer from the disadvantages of requiring a special tie, or problems achieving the proper length once worn. Therefore, a need exists to create a necktie knot cover which can be used with any traditional tie, and allows the user to wear their tie as they normally would. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In a preferred but non-limiting example, the necktie cover of the present invention includes a knot cover having a midpoint, three arcuate sides, and three straight sides, a lower strap connected to the knot cover; and an upper strap connected to the necktie cover, and located opposite the midpoint. 
         [0008]    In another preferred but non-limiting example, the necktie cover of the present invention is adapted to cover a necktie knot and includes a knot cover having a midpoint, lower strap connected to the knot cover, and an upper strap connected to the necktie cover and located opposite the midpoint. 
         [0009]    The necktie cover lower strap and knot cover can be made of a same material. The necktie cover can be sateen, silk, and/or contain wool. The upper strap can be elastic, and the knot cover can be a different pattern from the necktie. The upper strap can also have a connector, which can be made of hooks and loops or a hook and eye closure. 
         [0010]    Another preferred but non-limiting example of the present invention is a method of using a necktie cover which includes tying a necktie into a knot, feeding the necktie through a lower strap of a necktie cover, and securing an upper strap around a neck such that the necktie cover covers the knot. 
         [0011]    In this method, the necktie cover can be a different pattern from the necktie. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the necktie knot cover; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the necktie knot cover; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a back view of the necktie knot cover; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the necktie knot cover; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a transparent front view of the necktie knot cover over a tie; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the necktie knot cover over a tie; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a back view of the necktie knot cover over a tie; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the necktie knot cover in an unfastened position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a back view of the necktie knot cover of  FIG. 8  in a fastened position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a front view of another alternative embodiment of the necktie knot cover in an unfastened position; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a back view of the necktie knot cover of  FIG. 10  in a fastened position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting. 
         [0024]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , in a preferred but non-limiting example, the necktie cover  1  includes a knot cover  3 , which covers a necktie knot, and an upper strap  5  to wrap around a user&#39;s neck. The knot cover  3  can be made of any material which adequately covers the knot. In a preferred example, the necktie knot cover  3  is made of a material or fabric similar to neckties, such as silk, cotton, wool, or sateen. The knot cover  3  may be a single layer of fabric, or other material, or two or more layers with a filler between some or all of the layers. It may be possible for the knot cover  3  to be made of a hard material in order to maintain a consistent shape. The knot cover  3  can also be very elastic, or the knot can be of normal elasticity (i.e., the elasticity of a tie) and flexible. The knot cover  3  can also be transparent, where the knot cover  3  may be used as a shield to protect the necktie knot from becoming dirty or undone. 
         [0025]    The upper strap  5  can be a continuous piece of fabric, such as silk, sateen, elastic, cotton, wool, or any other known fabrics in the necktie industry, or the necktie can be at least two pieces with an appropriate number of fasteners or connectors  17  such that a user would need to fasten the upper strap  5  to secure it around their neck. Any number of fasteners can be used, such as a hook and loop, cravat clip hook fasteners (i.e. bowtie fastening clasps), an eye-hook, a toggle fastener, an S hook, box tab insert, lobster claw, springring, fishhook, traditional buckle, cam buckle, or any other known fasteners or clasps for fastening items to the neck, such as the fasteners used in lanyards, necklaces, or bracelets. The fasteners can be any metal, plastic, or other material which will not keep the upper strap  5  together when a normal force from use is applied to the upper strap  5  and/or clasp. The fastener can be part of the upper strap  5 , or could connect the upper strap  5  to the knot cover  3 . 
         [0026]    The length of the upper strap  5  may be adjusted to neck size by the use of a second clasp, or any other known fabric length adjustors, such as strap adjustors like a backpack shoulder strap. 
         [0027]    The knot cover  3  preferably includes a combination of arcuate and straight edges. In a preferred but non-limiting example, the knot cover  3  includes six edges, wherein each consecutive edge alternates between an arcuate and a straight edge. The configuration of the edges of the knot cover  3  can depend on many factors in the fashion industry, such as which knots are more fashionable at the time. By altering the number of edges, the degree, or lack of, curvature will determine how the knot cover  3  looks when in use. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to designs with alternating straight and arcuate edges. For example, on a six sided knot cover  3 , there could be zero, one, two, three, four, five, or six arcuate edges. 
         [0028]    As seen in  FIGS. 2-4 , in a preferred but non-limiting example, the necktie cover  1  also includes a lower strap  7 . The lower strap  7  secures the knot cover  3  against the necktie by wrapping around the necktie. The result is a knot cover  3  which surrounds and disguises the necktie knot such that the knot (with the knot cover  3 ) looks identical and consistent every time. The lower strap  7 , like the upper strap  5 , can be elastic, silk, sateen, cotton, wool, or any material, hard or soft, elastic or inelastic, which secures the necktie cover  3  against the necktie knot. Also like the upper strap  5 , the lower strap  7  can be multiple lengths or pieces, such that a fastener or clasp is used to secure it for use. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a preferred but non-limiting example of the present invention where the upper strap  5  and lower strap  7  are separated by a midpoint  9 . This allows the upper strap  5  to go around the neck and the lower strap  7  to wrap around the bottom of the necktie knot or close to the bottom. Having these two points of contact on opposite sides of the midpoint  9  ensures that the necktie knot cover  3  is well-fitted against the necktie knot. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the tie cover, where the upper strap  5  is greater in length than the lower strap  7 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 5-7  show the knot cover covering and partially enveloping the knot  15  of a necktie  11 . As can be seen, the necktie  11  can be tied normally to include a body, a knot  15 , and a necktie band  13 . In this way, a user can use their regular ties without having to buy ties which are specially adapted for the knot cover. The necktie can have a consistent look with the tie, no matter how eloquently or poorly the user ties the tie. Not only does this provide a more sophisticated and outstanding style, it can save time by recreating a consistent look without repeated efforts by the user to make the knot  15  acceptable. Because the necktie cover is useable with any traditional necktie  11 , it is possible to create fashion statements by having the necktie  11  and necktie knot cover  3  be different materials, colors, or patterns. 
         [0032]    In a preferred but non-limiting example, the upper strap  5  rests on top of the necktie band  13 . This allows the user to put the tie on first, and then put the knot cover  3  in place. It is possible that the necktie cover could go on first, in which case the upper strap  5  would be located below, or at least partially below, the necktie band  13 . 
         [0033]    As seen in  FIG. 7  and discussed above, the advantage of having the upper strap (not shown) and lower strap  7  separated by a midpoint is that the configuration allows for a secure connection to the tie knot. The exact thickness of the straps are not important, but it is preferred that they are thick enough to ensure that the bottom and the top (relative to the midpoint) are secured with a strap. Also in  FIG. 7 , it is preferable that the lower strap  7  be at or below the necktie knot  15 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 8-11  illustrate two different embodiments of the necktie knot cover where the connectors  17  are illustrated in both an unfastened and fastened position. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  the necktie knot cover includes cravat clip hook fasteners (i.e. bowtie fastening clasps)  117  in the upper strap, as discussed above. As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  the connectors of the necktie knot cover may be Velcro®  217 .