Patent Publication Number: US-2018035722-A1

Title: Garment collar assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to collars for garments and, more particularly, to a collar assembly that is fixed in place. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shirts often have ornamental collars to frame the neck of the wearer. The most common type of collar ends in two points, as is popularly used in dress shirts and polo shirts. Typically, the collar is stitched to the body of a shirt at the neckline. Such collars commonly stand up around the neck and fold over towards the points. 
     In prior approaches, collars can become unruly looking and lose their stand. The desired neat look of a shirt collar is lost if the collar becomes rumpled. These problems are particularly common in athletic and polo shirts, which are typically made of softer, less stiff material than dress shirts. 
     There have been attempts to address these problems. Most solutions involve adding non-fabric material to a collar to hold it in place. For example, some shirts include snaps or buttons that attach the collar to the shirt, holding it in place. Collars also may be held in place using collar links. Another collar design includes a collar stay, which is a strip of hard material such as metal or plastic. The collar is hollowed out to accommodate the insertion of collar stays near the points. When inserted, the weight of the collar stays keeps the collar lying flat. In another collar design, a band of material such as plastic supports the collar around the neck, holding it upright. 
     There are problems with these solutions, however. When a collar incorporates a stiff piece of material, it is less comfortable for the wearer. Such collars are also harder to wash and often create an overly stiff and formal appearance. 
     Thus, it should be appreciated that there remains a need for a shirt collar that provides a mechanism for maintaining its shape in a low-profile manner, while maintaining comfort for the wearer. The present invention solves these needs and others. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, and in general terms, by example and not limitation, the invention provides a collar assembly for a garment comprising a garment body having a collar band disposed about the neck portion of the garment, and a collar leaf attached to the collar band, extending from a fold disposed between the collar band and the collar leaf. The collar leaf has a front edge and a bottom edge, and terminates in a point on each side. A fixing stitch on each side of the collar affixes the collar leaf to the garment proximate to the fold and the front edge of the collar leaf. The collar leaf may be so affixed to the garment body and/or the collar band. 
     In another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the invention, the fixing stitch is disposed in a fixing stitch region within the front ⅓ of the collar leaf. 
     In another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the invention, the fixing stitch is a continuous stitched line on the collar. However, various types of stitches may be used, including multiple parallel lines, zig-zags, or any other stitch pattern desired. The stitching may also be a bartack or a series of bartacks. The fixing stitch can also include an accent design to highlight it. Alternatively, the fixing stitch can be disposed along the underside of the collar so that it is not visible from the outside of the garment. 
     In another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the invention, each fixing stitch is backed off from the front edge of the collar, so that the collar looks more natural and is not too tight around the neck of the wearer. In a preferred embodiment, the fixing stitch terminates one half inch from the front edge of the collar. [[What is the preferred spacing from the front edge of the collar?]] 
     In yet another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the invention, the fixing stitch is inclined at a prescribed angle relative to the fold. This keeps the collar in place while maintaining an attractive appearance. Alternatively, the fixing stitch is substantially parallel to the front edge of the collar leaf 
     More specifically, in an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the invention, the length of the fixing stitch is about two inches in length. This length is desirable as it strikes the balance between holding the collar down and allowing some movement of the collar. A desirable range for the length of the fixing stitch is between one quarter inch and five inches in length. In other embodiments, the length can range from ½ inch to 3 inches, or from 1 inch to 2.5 inches. [[Please provide a range for the length of the fixing stitch that would be effective, e.g., 1-3 inches, or 1.5 to 2.5 inches etc.]] 
     In another detailed aspect of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the invention, the collar assembly is embodied on a shirt. The collar assembly is viable, however, for any collar type or fabric construction, including a polo shirt, a dress shirt, or a shirt dress. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a collar assembly that maintains a neat appearance without causing the collar to be too stiff looking or tight around the neck. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
     All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a shirt collar assembly in a downwardly-folded position, showing the outside of the shirt collar assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the shirt collar assembly of  FIG. 1  in an upwardly folded position, showing how the collar leaf is affixed to the collar band. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an underside portion of the shirt collar assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the shirt collar assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of a shirt collar assembly with a fixing stitch including an accent. 
         FIGS. 6A-6D  are side perspective views of shirt collar assemblies with various fixing stitch types and orientations. 
         FIG. 7A  is a side perspective view of depicting an underside portion of the shirt collar assembly in accordance with the invention, wherein the stitch line is not visible on the outside of the collar. 
         FIG. 7B  is a side perspective view of the shirt collar assembly of  FIG. 7A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and particularly  FIGS. 1-4 , there is shown a collar assembly  10  for a garment comprising a garment body  40  having a collar leaf  20 , a fold  22 , and a collar band  24 . The collar band  24  is disposed about the neck portion of a garment. The collar leaf  20  extends from the collar band about the neck of the garment via the fold  22 . The collar leaf has a front edge  26  on each side about a front portion of the garment; and the collar leaf further has a bottom edge  28 . A fixing stitch  30  connects the collar leaf to the garment body  40  on each side, as shown in  FIG. 4 . In this manner, the shirt collar maintains its stand and appearance throughout the life of the garment. 
     Each fixing stitch  30  connects a portion of the collar leaf  20  to the garment body  40  to keep the collar in the desired position. For example, in  FIG. 2 , the fixing stitch  30  attaches the collar leaf  20  to the collar band  24 . The fixing stitch could also attach the collar leaf  20  to any desirable portion of the garment body  40 . 
     The stitch line  30  could be any length, orientation, and position suitable to affix the collar leaf  20  to the garment body  40 . The term “fixing stitch,” unless otherwise specified, is intended to refer to one or more stitches used to affix one portion of fabric to another. It may include multiple rows of stitches, and may include various types of stitching. 
     The collar assembly  10  can be substantially made of a single piece of fabric, wherein the collar band  24  is affixed to the body of a shirt and folds over 22, so that the collar leaf  20  hangs around the neckline. Any other collar construction can be utilized without departing from the invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the fixing stitch  30  is preferably disposed in a fixing stitch region  15  disposed in the front third of the collar leaf. In an exemplary embodiment, each fixing stitch  30  is backed off from the front edge  26  of the collar leaf by a prescribed distance. Each fixing stitch is approximately one inch from the front edge of the collar, and about 2 inches in length, which allows the collar to stay in place without being too constrictive. Limiting the length of the fixing stitch and its proximity to the front edge  26  makes the collar look more natural and prevents the collar from fitting too tightly around the neck. The fixing stitch  30  can be between one quarter inch and five inches in length. In other embodiments, the length can range from ½ inch to 3 inches, or from 1 inch to 2.5 inches. Moreover, the distance from the front edge can vary without departing from the invention. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the fixing stitch  30  is angled downward from the fold  22  toward the collar points, such that the fixing stitch is inclined at a prescribed angle relative to the fold. This causes more of the collar leaf  20  to be held in place than if the fixing stitch were purely along the fold. Further, if the fixing stitch were too far down the body of the collar leaf, the movement of the collar would be overly inhibited, preventing it from being lifted or “popped.” Preferably the prescribed angle is between 5 and 45 degrees, although any desired angle can be used without departing from the invention. [[Please provide preferred angles of inclination for fixing stitch]] Alternatively, the fixing stitch can be aligned substantially parallel to the front edge of the collar leaf. 
       FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the collar assembly, wherein the fixing stitch  30  includes an accent design to highlight it. In this manner, the fixing stitch can be readily identified. 
       FIG. 6A  shows another embodiment of the collar assembly, wherein a series of bartacks  30  is used to affix the collar leaf  20  to the collar band  24 . A bartack or a series of bartacks may be used.  FIG. 6A  shows a row of bartacks, spaced apart to simulate a dashed line, for function and aesthetic purposes. The term “bartack(s)” is known in the art to be a type of stitching used where it is desirable to reinforce part of a garment in a decorative fashion. See Brown, Clara M. et al.,  Clothing Construction  53 (1934) (incorporated by reference). Herein, the term “bartack(s)” unless otherwise specified, is further intended to be a subset category of fixing stitch, used in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 6B  shows another embodiment of the collar assembly, wherein the fixing stitch  30  is substantially parallel to the front edge  26  of the collar leaf  20 . The fixing stitch is positioned approximately halfway between the fold  22  and the bottom edge  28 . 
       FIG. 6C  shows another embodiment of the collar assembly, wherein the collar leaf  20  is affixed to the collar band  24  with stitches  30  forming a zig-zag line. 
       FIG. 6D  shows another embodiment of the collar assembly, wherein the collar leaf  20  is affixed to the collar band  24  with stitches  30  forming multiple parallel lines.  FIG. 6D  shows three such lines, although the fixing stitch  30  may be in any arrangement desired, such as multiple parallel lines (single, double, triple, etc.). The stitch lines  30  are substantially horizontal. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show another embodiment of the shirt collar of the present invention, wherein the fixing stitch  30  is not visible from the outside of the shirt collar assembly. The fixing stitch  30  tacks the underside of the collar leaf  20  to the collar band  24  ( FIG. 7A ), to functionally hold down the collar leaf  20 , without being visible from the outside ( FIG. 7B ). 
     It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides an improved garment collar assembly wherein the collar leaf is stitched to the garment body with a fixing stitch, maintaining the shape of the collar without compromising comfort to the wearer. 
     Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference only to the exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the claims set forth below.