Patent Publication Number: US-6983961-B2

Title: Necktie-knotting device and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning tying a necktie. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to neckties, and in particular to a device used to form a tie knot. 
   Neckties are an important part of men&#39;s clothing. Different makes of neckties are manufactured and sold for different occasions. The ability to choose a tie for a particular occasion, form the desired knot and achieve the desired lengths of the narrow and broad part of the tie is an indispensable ability. 
   Three of the most popular tie knot styles are four-in-hand, half-Windsor and Windsor knot. Tying a necktie on ourselves is often time consuming and frustrating especially if we are in a hurry since the tie is always the last thing we put on after putting on, for example, a suit. Most of the time we tend to repeat tying the knot several times until the tie gets wrinkled. This happens because it is usually easier to tie someone else&#39;s tie than to knot a tie on ourselves. For example, a wife may end up knotting her husband&#39;s tie. 
   Some of those already wearing their tie may just loosen their tie without unraveling the knot to wear this at a later time and in a hurry. 
   Other design of ties such as the clip-on and other easy attachment ties that have the preformed knots were developed to hasten the wearing of a tie. While some are using these preformed ties, they are not very much accepted. Most men still like to use the usual neckties. 
   Several patents for forming necktie knots have been disclosed. Of particular importance to the present invention is the U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,068, issued Sep. 19, 2000 to N. DiPietro. This patent includes a cylindrical body, a means connected to the body for holding the necktie in position while the necktie is being worn, and two projecting and divergent elongated elements protruding from one end of the cylindrical body wherein the said elements provide wrap assist elements for knot formation. The steps of knotting the tie comprise the step of placing the tie around the collar of the wearer with the wider free end section crossed over the narrower free end section. The knot forming apparatus is then moved into place at the cross over point between the wider free end section over the apparatus top between the divergent element following the method of knotting discussed in the patent. After the tie is knotted, the apparatus is then removed from the tie knot by sliding the apparatus downward away from the tie knot. 
   The main disadvantage of the above mentioned patent is that while it may form the tie knot, it may be cumbersome for the wearer to use the device, wherein the use of the device is comprised of placing the device on the wearer&#39;s collar and at the same time knotting the tie. The complexity of using the apparatus in performing a simple task may not be what the user wants. 
   Thus, an improved knot forming apparatus that combines simplicity of use and has other uses is desirable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved necktie knotting apparatus and method. The present invention in one or more embodiments provides one or more apparatus that can be used to knot a necktie for immediate use, for store displays, or as a teaching tool. The present invention can be useful for people who wear neckties to work, store employees who knot neckties for store displays, and for new users who want to learn how to knot or tie a necktie. 
   In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a hanger, a first member, a second member, and a third member. This embodiment or part of this embodiment may be said to be arranged in an inverted-delta configuration. In one embodiment, the first member, which can be called a collar, may have a first and a second indentation that together serve as an anchor for a tie. The second indentation may be opposite the first indentation. The second and third member may be arranged in a Y-shape configuration and may be comprised of two separate symmetrical parts each having an upper portion called an arm and a lower portion called a handle. The upper part of each of the arms is connected to the collar. The hanger may be connected to the collar. The collar may have a means of hanging the tie before it is knotted. In another embodiment, the first member, which can be called a collar, may have a first and second indentation that together serve as an anchor for the tie. The configuration of this embodiment may be called a “T configuration”. The second and third members are substantially straight wherein the second member is called the spine and the third member is called the handle. The upper part is connected to the middle part of the collar. In yet, in another embodiment, which may be called a “channel-configuration”, the collar is in the shape of a channel that serves as an anchor for the device and bent symmetrical shape wire mentioned in the first embodiment. In all embodiments, the meeting point of the first member and the second member is called the device tie knot point. A tie loop is created by fixing a certain length of a narrow end of the tie in the device tie knot point and running a broad tie end on the collar and back to the device tie knot point. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1B  shows a cross sectional view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 2  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention with the apparatus in an unassembled state; 
       FIG. 5A  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5B  shows a close-up cross sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 5A ; 
       FIG. 6  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10A  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10B  shows a section of a device for use with the apparatus of  FIG. 10A ; 
       FIG. 11  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  shows a front view of an apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  shows the parts of a knotted necktie; and 
       FIGS. 14A–E  show front views of an apparatus shown in  FIG. 9 , showing how the tie is knotted on the device using half-Windsor knot and showing how to remove the device from the tie knot. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A  shows a front view of an apparatus  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present. The apparatus  10  may be called a necktie-knotting device. The apparatus  10  is comprised of a loop  12  and a straight portion  14  which together may be called a rack hanger, a solid portion or collar  16 , a protrusion  18 , an indentation or anchor  20 , a protrusion  22 , a protrusion  24 , an indentation  26 , a protrusion  28 , a bottom portion  30 , and members  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38 . Members  32  and  36  may be called arms and members  34  and  38  may be called handles. In  FIG. 1A  a dashed circle  42  is used to show the point at which a tie would be knotted and a dashed substantially triangular shape  40  is used to show a device tie loop corresponding to the tie loop. The collar  16  serves as an anchor or a guide for a necktie when forming a tie loop. The intersection of the arms  32  and  36  and the handles  34  and  38 , respectively, forms the device tie knot point  42  where a tie can be knotted. 
   In  FIG. 1A , the intersection of the arms, such as arms  32  and  36  and the handles  34  and  38 , respectively, is curved to make it easy for the apparatus, such as apparatus  10 , to ease out of a tie knot. The configuration of the collar  16  and the device tie knot point  42  forms the device tie loop  40  corresponding to a tie loop created when a tie is looped around the wearer&#39;s collar. Preferably, the distance from a midpoint on the anchor  20  to a midpoint on the anchor  26  is about the same as the distance from the midpoint on the anchor  20  to the center of the device tie knot point  42 , and is about the same as the distance from the midpoint on the anchor  26  to the center of the device tie knot point  42 . The ends  34   a  and  38   a  of the handles  34  and  38 , respectively, are typically rounded to remove any sharpness. 
   The collar, such as collar  16  in  FIG. 1A , can be solid and can be made of plastic, wood, or some other material. A wood collar for collar  16  is preferably about 5/16 inch thick. The arch or bottom portion  30  on the collar  16  is designed to provide a bigger area for the tie to pass through. The arms, such as arms  32  and  36  and handles  34  and  38  can have a typical diameter of about ⅛ inch. 
     FIG. 1A  shows a basic design of a necktie-knotting apparatus  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The collar  16  can be made of any stiff material, such as molded plastic or wood. The arms/handle, such as arms  32  and  36 , and handles  34  and  38 , are typically made of resilient metal wire. 
     FIG. 1B  shows a cross sectional view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1B  shows that member  32  is attached to portion  32   a  and thus attached to plastic collar  16 , member  36  is attached to portion  36   a  and thus attached to collar  16 , and straight portion  14  is attached to portion  14   a  and thus attached to collar  16 . Portions  32   a ,  36   a , and  14   a  are part of members  32 ,  36 , and portion  14 , respectively, molded in the plastic collar  16 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a front view of an apparatus  100  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  100  includes portions  112  and  114  which can be called a rotating rack hanger, a collar  116 , a protruding portion  118 , an indentation  120 , protruding portion  122 , protruding portion  124 , indentation  126 , protruding portion  128 , extension  130 , opening  132 , channel  134 , and members  136 ,  138 ,  140 , and  142 . Portions  112  and  114  together make up a rack hanger. Portion  116  can be called a collar. Portions  120  and  126  can be called anchors. Extension  130  can be called a necktie hanger. The extension  130  or tie hanger is built into the collar  116  so that a necktie can be hanged on the apparatus  100  prior to knotting. The opening  132  makes it easy for a tie to be hanged or remove from the necktie hanger  130 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a front view of an apparatus  200  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  200  may be called a necktie knotting device. The apparatus  200  includes a portion or collar  204 , an opening  202 , a protrusion  206 , an indentation or anchor  208 , a protrusion  210 , a protrusion  212 , an indentation or anchor  214 , a protrusion  216 , a member  218 , a member  220 , a member  222 , and a member  224 . The opening  202  is for hanging the apparatus  200  on a peg. 
     FIG. 4  shows a front view of an apparatus  300  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention with the apparatus  300  in an unassembled state. The apparatus  300  includes a hook  301 , which includes a hook portion  302  and a straight portion  304 . The hook  301  may be called a rack hanger. The apparatus  300  also includes a collar  305 , a protrusion  308 , an indentation or anchor  310 , a protrusion  312 , a protrusion  314 , an indentation  316 , a protrusion  318 , a bottom portion  320  and a slot  322 . The apparatus includes a device  324  which includes members,  326 ,  328 ,  330 ,  332 , and  334 . The apparatus  300  is typically used for a wood collar. There are many ways to attach the metal wire arms, such as members  326 ,  328 ,  330 ,  332 , and  334  to the collar  305 . The apparatus  300  shows a slot  322  created on the side of the collar  305  (about ⅜″ deep) where a continuous arms and handle configuration, such as device  324 , can be attached. The arms/handle device  324  is inserted into the slot  322  and fixed with glue. The end  304   a  of the rack hanger  301  is threaded. 
     FIG. 5A  shows a front view of an apparatus  400 . The apparatus  400  is comprised of hook portion  402 , straight portion  404 , portion or collar  406 , protrusion  408 , anchor or portion  410 , protrusion  412 , protrusion  414 , anchor  416 , protrusion  418 . The apparatus  400  includes members or arms  420  and  424 , and members or handles  422  and  426 .  FIG. 5B  shows a close up view cross sectional view of a portion of the apparatus  400  of  FIG. 5A .  FIG. 5B  shows protrusion  412 , part of indentation  410 , part of member  420  and end  420 A and end  420 B.  FIG. 5A  shows arms  420  and  424  attached to a wood collar  406 . A hole is pre-drilled in the collar  406  where the arms  420  and  424  are to be inserted. The ends of the arms, such as end  420 B, are flattened to prevent the arms from turning or twisting. The arms are inserted by force to the pre-drilled hole in the collar  406 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a front view of an apparatus  500  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  500  includes a portion  502 , a portion  504 , a protrusion  506 , an indentation  508 , a protrusion  510 , a protrusion  512 , an indentation  514 , and a protrusion  516 . The apparatus  500  also includes members  518 ,  520 ,  522 , and  524 . The apparatus portion  502  and portion  501  is made of molded plastic. 
     FIG. 7  shows a front view of an apparatus  600  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  600  includes a portion  602 , a portion  604 , a protrusion  606 , an indentation  608 , a protruding portion  610 , a protruding portion  612 , an indentation  614 , a protruding portion  616 , members  618 ,  620 ,  622 ,  624 ,  626 , and  628 . The apparatus  600  in  FIG. 7  may be completely made of plastic. Part of the arms may be flat at portions  618  and  624  to provide strength to the structure. The rest of the arms, portions  620  and  626  and handles,  622  and  628  are rounded. 
     FIG. 8  shows a front view of an apparatus  700  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  700  includes a portion  702 , a portion  704 , a portion  706 , a portion  708 , an indentation  710 , a portion  712 , a member  714 , a member  716 , a portion  718 , a portion  720 , a portion  722 , a member  724 , and a member  726 .  FIG. 8  shows the apparatus  700  made entirely of metal wires and wherein the hook rack hanger, i.e. portion  702  and portion  704  is welded to the collar  706 . 
     FIG. 9  shows a front view of an apparatus  800  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  800  includes a portion  802 , a portion  804 , a portion  806 , a portion  808 , a portion  810 , a portion  812 , a portion  814 , a portion  816 , a portion  818 , a portion  820 , a portion  822 , a portion  824 , a portion  826 , a portion  828 , and a portion  830 .  FIG. 9  shows the apparatus  800  made of a continuous metal wire where the peg hanger  802  is formed by looping the metal wire. 
     FIG. 10A  shows a front view of a device  900  having a collar  902  in the shape of a channel that serves as an anchor for the tie. The device  900  includes a portion  902 , a member  904 , a member  906 , a member  908 , a member  910 , a member  912 , a member  914 , a member  916 , and a member  918 . The portion  902  is comprised of section  902   a , section  902   b , and section  902   c.    
   The collar  902  in  FIG. 10A  can be semi-circular in shape with a channel shown in  FIG. 10B  as an anchor or guide but the most effective to create a tie loop is a collar and device tie knot point  42  forming a triangle as in the  FIG. 1A . Part of the arms  908  and  904  are molded into  902   c  and  902   b , respectively. 
     FIG. 10B  shows a cross-section of a device  1000  for use with the device  900  of  FIG. 10A . The device  1000  includes a portion  1002  and a portion  1004 . 
     FIG. 11  shows a front view of an apparatus  1100  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  1100  includes a collar  1101 , a portion  1102 , a portion  1104 , a protrusion  1106 , an indentation  1108 , a protruding portion  1110 , a protruding portion  1112 , an indentation  1114 , a protruding portion  1116 , a portion  1118 , a portion  1120 , and a portion  1122 . The apparatus  1100  may be made completely of plastic. 
     FIG. 12  shows a front view an apparatus  1200  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  1200  includes a portion  1202 , a portion  1204 , a portion  1206 , a protrusion  1208 , an indentation  1210 , a protrusion  1212 , a protrusion  1214 , an indentation  1216 , a protrusion  1218 , a portion  1220 , a portion  1224 , a portion  1226 , a portion  1228 , a portion  1230 , and a portion  1232 . A device knot tie point  1234  is also shown in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 12  shows a wood or plastic collar, a metal wire hook and looped shaped spine and handle piece. The spine/handle configuration is formed as a loop to widen the handle and to provide for a better hold on the tie during knotting as well as to prevent the handle form twisting. The handle part, such as handles or portions  1224 ,  1226 , and  1228  may be painted in color to define the meeting point of the spine (portions  1220 ,  1222 ,  1230 , and  1232 ) and handle that is the device tie knot point  1234  were the necktie is knotted. 
     FIG. 13  shows the parts of a knotted necktie. The necktie  1300  comprised of the tie loop  1301 , knot  1302 , broad end of the tie  1303  and narrow end of the tie  1304 . 
     FIGS. 14A–D  shows using an apparatus  800  shown in  FIG. 9 , which has been chosen for simplicity of drawing showing how to knot the tie using the half-Windsor knot. 
     FIG. 14E  shows an apparatus shown in  FIG. 9  whereby the tie is knotted and removed from the apparatus  800 . 
     FIGS. 14A–E  show a front view of an apparatus  800  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 9  and a tie  1300 . In  FIG. 14A  the tie  1300  is shown in one state of being placed on the apparatus  800 . In  FIG. 14B , the tie  1300  is shown in a second state of being placed on the apparatus  800 . In  FIG. 14C , the tie  1300  is shown in a third state of being placed on the apparatus  800  with a final knot  1302 . In  FIG. 14D , the tie  1300  is shown in a fourth state of being placed on the apparatus  800 . In  FIG. 14E , the tie  1300  is shown in a fifth state of being taken off of the apparatus  1300 . 
     FIGS. 14A–E  shows the operation of an apparatus  800  shown in  FIG. 9 . Each of the apparatus, such as apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1A  is used as a support for tying a necktie, such as necktie  1300  of  FIGS. 14A–E . The user can choose what type of knot tying technique he/she wants.  FIGS. 14A to 14D  show the half-Windsor knot tying technique. As shown in  FIG. 14E , using the apparatus  800  shown in  FIG. 9 , after knotting the tie  1300  on the apparatus  800 , the tie  1300  on the anchor  810  and  824  of collar  806  is removed, the knot  1302  is held and then the apparatus  800  is pulled up from the tie knot  1302 . 
   The apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1A–12  are suitable for different knotting styles. A slight change in the step of knotting such as when the tie is knotted on going to the left side opposite to what is shown in  FIG. 14B  and continuing opposite to what is shown in  FIG. 14C , the knot  1302  cannot be unraveled by simply pulling the narrow end upwards.  FIGS. 14A to 14E  shows a procedure in which the knot  1302  can be unraveled when the narrow tie  1304  is pulled upward of the knot  1302 . 
   The necktie knotting technique shown in  FIGS. 14A to 14D  is called half-Windsor. The procedure shown begins the tie loop from left to right with the narrow tie on the left side of the collar, such as collar  806 . In practice, it does not matter whether where the broad tie is started and could depend on whether the person is left of right handed. 
   Determination of the length of the narrow end of the tie  1304  that will be placed on the device tie knot point  830 , see label on  FIG. 9 . is the same as when we place the tie around our collar. There are other methods of determining the right length of a narrow tie  1303 . Consistent use of the device will give one the right length of the narrow end  1304  of a tie, such as tie  1300 . This is because the measurement of the device tie loop that forms the tie loop could be the approximate measurement of the neck. 
   The apparatus, such as apparatus  800  shown in  FIG. 9 , is held by holding the handle, such as handle  816  and  818  and resting the thumb on the device tie knot point  830 . The necktie knotting technique shown is for the half-Windsor. Step one may be clipping a length of the narrow tie  1304  in between the left thumb and the device tie knot point  830 . Running the broad tie  1303  on the collar guide  810  and  824  and back to the device tie knot point  830  as shown in  FIG. 14A . Step  2  may be getting the broad tie inside the device tie loop  832  (see  FIG. 9  added label) and clipping the tie, such as tie  1300  firmly with the left thumb as shown in  FIG. 14B . Step  3  may be passing the broad tie  1304  over the left thumb, inside the device tie loop  832  and pass through tie partial knot  1302  that is over the left thumb. Pull the broad tie  1303  and as the tie knot  1302  is formed, release the left thumb out the still loose tie knot  1302  as shown in  FIG. 14C . Step  4  may be pulling the broad tie  1303 , to tighten the tie knot  1302  as shown in  FIG. 14D . Step  5  may be unwrapping the tie  1301 , such as tie  1300  off the anchor  810  and  824 , such as collar  806  and holding the tie knot  1302  and pulling the apparatus  800  up as shown in  FIG. 14E . 
   Most tie-knotting techniques can be done on one of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1A–12 . Knotting the tie is convenient since one typically does not need a mirror as the tie is being knotted on the apparatus before being worn. A pre-knotted necktie can be removed from the one of the apparatus in  FIGS. 1A–12  and worn in a hurry. The knotted ties can be hanged, on a revolving tie hanger or a tie rack for easy pairing with the different kinds of suits. One or more of the apparatus in  FIGS. 1A–12  can be hanged separately in the closet or can be hanged on to a pegged suit hanger. The hanged knotted tie looks more attractive for store display allowing the customers to immediately see how it looks when the tie is knotted and worn. The tie can be removed and hanged at home or the office to preserve its appearance. Any regular necktie can be used on any one of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1A–12 . The feeling of typing the necktie is, still experienced unlike the pre-knotted neckties that use zippers or easy attachments. Indentation purposely done by such inventions disclosed by Parietti in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,577,778 and 6,435,571 and; U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,318 disclosed by Rusing may be done on this device by hand, so is the possibility of removal of the indentation if not desired. 
   Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention&#39;s contribution to the art.