Patent Publication Number: US-2018049479-A1

Title: Stretch collar for adjustable fit and comfort

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority to provisional application U.S. Pat. App. No. 62/377,022, filed Aug. 19, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to expandable shirt collars. The expandable shirt collar and band have stretch capabilities to accommodate for shrinkage of the parts of the shirt at the neck or for neck growth. The expandable collar and band will have the ability to stretch up to one inch for appropriate and consistent fit. The unique features of the invention include that the expandable collar is comfortable and stylish in appearance while at the same time having the utility of being expandable as the circumference of the neck of the wearer changes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The problem with dress shirts historically is that dress shirts have a short lifespan, due to the inelasticity of the shirt collars. Inevitably, shirt collars shrink after multiple cleaning cycles, or get tight if the wearer&#39;s neck circumference changes. The claimed invention addresses these problems by incorporating into a shirt an elastic, stretchable shirt collar, which will not have any visible difference from an ordinary dress shirt. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claimed invention. 
         FIG. 1 . Shows the outside view of the top of the shirt collar, viewed from the front, with the top collar, seam allowance sewn with body and elastic insert shown. 
         FIG. 2 . Shows the undercollar outside of the shirt collar with the 2 ply yoke at bias, viewed from the back, with the top collar, bottom collar, ¼ patch, outer band, elastic insert and bias yoke shown. 
         FIG. 3  Shows the innerband inside view of the collar, with the elastic insert and fusible inside band shown 
         FIG. 4  Shows the inside front view shown from the front 
         FIG. 5  Shows the outside rear view of the shirt collar shown from the back. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various examples of the invention will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these examples. One skilled in the relevant art will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Likewise, one skilled in the relevant art will also understand that the invention can include many other features not described in detail herein. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the drawing is the inside and outside view of the collar assembly. The references in the drawing are: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 (11) 
                 Top Collar layer 
               
               
                 (12) 
                 Bottom Collar layer 
               
               
                 (13) 
                 ¼ patch 
               
               
                 (14) 
                 (not used) 
               
               
                 (15) 
                 Outer band components 
               
               
                 (16) 
                 Innerband 
               
               
                 (17) 
                 Elastic insret 
               
               
                 (18) 
                 (not used) 
               
               
                 (19) 
                 Left yoke 
               
               
                 (20) 
                 Right yoke 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In one embodiment, the collar is comprised of a top collar layer ( 1 ), bottom collar ( 2 ), ¼ patch ( 3 ), outer band ( 5 ), inner band ( 6 ), left yoke and right yoke ( 9 ,  10 ). The band has at one end a hole and at the other a button that in use, is inserted through the hole. The outerband ( 5 ) and inner band ( 6 ) are comprised of a section where an elastic insert ( 7 ) connects a first and a second section of both the inner and outerband, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The seam where the elastic insert meets the body of the shirt is only sewn when the collar inserted into the body of the shirt.  FIG. 3 . In another embodiment, the seam along the bottom of the collar band stops at the elastic insert, that is, the collar band seam to the body is along the first and second sections of the inner and outerbands, as shown in  FIG. 3 . In one embodiment, the fabric of the collar and collar band will be a stretch woven fabric, having at least 5% elastane or T400 properties and an initial minimum stretch of 20% up to a maximum stretch of 50%. The residual growth will be no more than 5%. 
     In another embodiment, the collar of the shirt is cut on the bias of body fabric, consisting of five parts, as shown in  FIG. 2 . These component parts are the top collar ( 1 ), the bottom under collar ( 2 ), the quarter stay patch on each collar point ( 3 ), and the stretch fusible lining fused halfway through to the top collar. The collar band is also cut on the bias, consisting of ten component pieces, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 : the outer band (two pieces in the body fabric), the inner band (two pieces of push elastic with high stretch and 95% recovery, which measure 1.5 inches wide by 1.25 inches tall), stretch fusible lining fused to the inside band, where two of the outer component pieces are fused and then attached to the elastic which then becomes the inner collar band. In this embodiment, the thread should have the ability of at least 50% elongation, with a stitch type of 18-20 stitches per inch for the parts needing the stretch, including the bobbin and top thread and the collar set into the band, which must allow some stretch at the seam set. The yoke of the shirt is a 2 ply split yoke ( 9 ), ( 10 ), as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , which in one embodiment, is cut on the bias of the fabric. 
     In yet another embodiment, the shirt collar is the same as the first embodiment for cut parts. However, bonding is used in place of sewing seams, and bonding laminate is used in place of fusible interlinings. In this second embodiment, the collar and band are to be glued or otherwise adhered in order to not use sew taping. The band shall be set into the body of the shirt using sewing, with stretch threads at 18-20 stitches per inch. 
     In yet another embodiment, the outer band may be constructed such that the outer collar band fabric covers the elastic insert, but is not sewn to it, in order that the elastic operate beneath the cover of the fabric. In this embodiment, the outer collar band fabric is not sewn into the body of the shirt along the section where the elastic insert lies underneath. The amount of fabric may be partially gathered along that section in order to accommodate the adjustment of the elastic collar.