Abstract:
A necktie holder including a crossbar having opposed ends. A retainer is secured to the opposed ends of the crossbar so as to form an elongated loop together with the crossbar. The retainer is arched so that a portion of such is elevated above the crossbar. The retainer is provided with a cut along its length so as to divide the retainer into a pair of selectively separable parts. A flexible link is releasably connected to the opposed ends of the crossbar.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to buckles, buttons, clasps and, more particularly, to necktie fasteners. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many fasteners have been proposed for holding a necktie close to the shirt of a wearer. Some of these fasteners are merely elaborate safety pins that require the penetration of the fabric of a shirt to use them. Other fasteners comprise spring clips that tend to fall off and become lost when jarred. Still others use hooks for suspension from the thread holding a button in place. Torn fabric, lost necktie fasteners, and missing buttons have discouraged many individuals who wear shirts and ties from using necktie fasteners. Furthermore, none of the known fasteners provides the wearer with the option to coordinate the appearance of the fastener with all of his apparel. A long-felt need, thus, exists for a necktie holder that places little stress on a shirt and, yet, provides the wearer the freedom to quickly and affordably select from many ornamental elements to fashionably augment his appearance. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In light of the problems associated with the known necktie fasteners, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved necktie holder for wear with a buttoned shirt and a conventional necktie. The necktie holder is supported from the bottom of a buttonhole (perhaps the part of a shirt with greatest reinforcement) and comfortably retains a necktie against the front of the shirt of a wearer. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a necktie holder of the type described that is easy to use and capable of displaying indicia of various sorts to passersby. The user can vary the indicia to make the necktie holder into a changeable advertising system. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a necktie holder for the purposes described that is lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and fully dependable in use. 
   Briefly, the necktie holder in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring a crossbar having opposed ends. An upwardly arched retainer is secured to the opposed ends of the crossbar. The retainer has a central portion configured like an inverted “V” that is cut to permit the central portion to be selectively divided. A pair of intermediate portions is integrally formed with the central portion and extends outwardly from the bottom thereof. A pair of end portions is integrally formed with the intermediate portions and extends downwardly to the crossbar. A chain is releasably connected to the opposed ends of the crossbar. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a necktie holder in accordance with the present invention shown being disposed on a shirt to prevent a necktie from swinging about. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded front elevational view of the necktie holder of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the necktie holder shown being engaged with the buttonhole of a shirt. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the FIGS., a necktie holder in accordance with the present invention is shown at  10 . Necktie holder  10  includes a crossbar  12  and a retainer  14  that connects the opposed ends of crossbar  12  together so as to form an elongated loop. Retainer  14  is arched so that its midpoint is higher than its opposed ends and is provided with a cut  16  remote from either of its ends that divides such into two parts  14   a  and  14   b  of unequal length. A flexible link or chain  18  loosely connects the ends of crossbar  12  together. 
   Crossbar  12  has a length sufficient to span from one side of a necktie  20  to the other. The ends of crossbar  12  are provided with apertures  22 . Adjacent apertures  22 , the opposite ends of retainer  14  are brazed, or otherwise suitably attached, to crossbar  12 . 
   Retainer  14  is formed of stiff wire. As shown, retainer  14  includes a central portion  24  formed like an inverted “V”. A pair of intermediate portions  26  are integrally formed with central portion  24  and extend outwardly from the bottom thereof such that they are substantially parallel to crossbar  12 . A pair of end portions  28  are integrally formed with the outer ends of intermediate portions  26  and extend downwardly to crossbar  12  to which such is secured. This configuration provides necktie holder  10  with a low center of gravity for great stability during use. 
   Cut  16  can be provided anywhere along the length of retainer  14 . For ease of manufacture, however, cut  16  may best be provided in central portion  24 , as shown, well away from crossbar  12 . Cut  16  can be provided by application of a sharp shearing edge to retainer  14  after such is secured to crossbar  12  or in any other preferred manner. 
   Chain  18  carries clasps  30  at its opposite ends for releasable attachment to crossbar  12 . Clasps  30  are of a well-known type and are adapted to be selectively extended through apertures  22  in crossbar  12 . Obviously, clasps  30  could be carried by crossbar  12  rather than by chain  18 , but should such a clasp on crossbar  12  break, holder  10  is rendered wholly unusable. Should a clasp  30  on chain  18  fail, a user need merely replace inexpensive chain  18  to continue using holder  10 . 
   Chain  18  carries a medallion  32  at its midpoint. Medallion  32  can be provided with indicia (not shown) that identifies, by way of example only: an employer, a hobby, a cause, or the wearer himself. As will be immediately appreciated, a user can utilize holder  10  with different chains  18  and medallions  32  on different occasions with consistent elan and style. Depending on commercial availability, a user could easily add to his collection of chains  18  and medallions  32  over time. In the alternative, retailers could sell sets of chains  18  and medallions  32  as part of a system utilizing necktie holder  10 . 
   Use of necktie holder  10  is straightforward. First, a user dons a shirt  34  and necktie  20  in a conventional manner. Next, the user deforms retainer  14  with a light force to slightly separate parts  14   a  and  14   b  from one another as illustrated by the broken line positions of  FIG. 2 . In this state, part  14   a  is extended through the back of a buttonhole  36  in the middle of shirt  34  so that part  14   a  projects from the front of buttonhole  36 . Then, the deforming force is released to allow parts  14   a  and  14   b  to spring back together with the bottom of buttonhole  36  located within central portion  24  and lock crossbar  12  upon shirt  34  behind necktie  20 . If desired, the button (not shown) associated with buttonhole  36  can be extended through buttonhole  36 . Finally, chain  18  is extended across the front of necktie and clasps  30  are secured to the ends of crossbar  12  to hold necktie  20  adjacent shirt  34  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
   Should a user wish to remove shirt  34  and necktie  20  and cease employing holder  10 , he need merely reverse the steps outlined in the previous paragraph. After disengaging holder  10  from shirt  34 , holder  10  can be conveniently stored in a glove box or drawer for subsequent use. In the event that holder  10  becomes soiled, it can be easily washed with soap and water. 
   It is expected that holder  10  will have a long useful life. As there is little possibility of slippage of retainer  14  down the front of shirt  34  as often occurs with clip-on fasteners, there is little possibility that holder  10  can be lost during use. Further, because parts  14   a  and  14   b  are strong and elastic, with the exercise of reasonable care by the user, installation of holder  10  on shirt  34  can be repeated many times without damage to any of its features. 
   While the invention has been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.