Patent Publication Number: US-2013247280-A1

Title: Shirt Stay

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to shirt stays (also known as shirt garters). The shirt stays of the present invention have a disconnect point that allows the wearer to disconnect the elongate straps into upper and lower straps thus providing for easy wearing and removal of the shirt stay. In one embodiment, the shirt stay of the present invention relates to two straps that have a means of connecting them at the far end of one strap and the near end of the second strap. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shirt stays (or shirt garters) are generally made of elastic straps that connect the bottom of a dress shirt to the socks or feet. There are two main varieties: those that loop around the foot and those that clip onto the sock. Various varieties have two clips at the top, one for the front and one for the back of the shirt. They are often used in military dress uniforms, by law officers, or by others who wish to prevent the shirt from untucking during the course of the day. 
     One of the major drawbacks of shirt stays are that they are not easy to remove when a wearer needs to rapidly remove them (for example, when a wearer is going to the bathroom) and then reattach the shirt stay so that a nice appearance is reinstituted. Accordingly, the present invention was designed to address these drawbacks. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to shirt stays (also known as shirt garters). The shirt stays of the present invention have a disconnect point that allows the wearer to disconnect the elongate straps into upper and lower straps thus providing for easy wearing and removal of the shirt stay. In one embodiment, the shirt stay of the present invention relates to two straps that have a means of connecting them at the far end of one strap and the near end of the second strap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows two straps that can be joined together to form a shirt stay. 
         FIG. 2  shows two straps that can be joined together to form a shirt stay along with a means of connecting one of the straps to a sock. 
         FIG. 3  shows two straps that can be joined together to form a shirt stay with a means of joining the first strap to the second strap. 
         FIG. 4  shows two straps that can be joined together to form a shirt stay with a means of attaching one of the straps to a shirt. 
         FIG. 5  shows two straps that can be joined together to form a shirt stay with a means of keeping one strap connected to the ankle or to the foot. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to shirt stays. In one embodiment, the shirt stays of the present invention have a disconnect point that allows for easy wearing and removal of the shirt stay. In one embodiment, the shirt stay of the present invention relates to two straps that have a means of connecting them at the far end of one strap and the near end of the second strap. In one embodiment, the present invention allows for all the advantages of a shirt stays of the prior art (e.g., having a neat and clean appearance) yet at the same time allows for a wearer to rapidly disconnect the straps so that the wearer can perform a task such as using a lavatory facility. The rapid disconnect may be most important in, the instances where the wearer has to disconnect the shirt stay very rapidly (for example, if the wearer has diarrhea). The straps can then be easily and rapidly reattached when the wearer needs to go back to a neat and tidy appearance. 
     In several embodiments, the invention will be described with reference to the figures. It should be understood that the figures are only for illustrative purposes and it is contemplated and therefore within the scope of the invention that various modifications can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  shows two straps  1  and  6  that can be joined together to form a shirt stay. The first strap  1  can be joined together with second strap  6 . First strap  1  has a close end  2  and a far end  3  that are disposed at opposite ends of first strap  1 . Second strap  6  has near end  4  and a distant end  5  disposed at opposite ends of second strap  6 . On first strap  1 , close end  2  has a means of connecting shirt strap  1  to a shirt. On first strap  1 , far end  3  has a means of connecting to the near end  4  of second strap  6 . This means of connecting far end  3  to near end  4  can also be easily disconnected. The process of reconnection and disconnection of far end  3  to near end  4  should be facile. On second strap  6 , distant end  5  has a means of connecting second strap  6  to either the ankle or foot, or alternatively, to a sock. 
     The straps  1  and  6 , in one embodiment, are made of material with limited stretchability such as material such as nylon, vinyl, leather, polyester, cotton, silk, rayon, hemp, bamboo, and mixtures thereof. 
     In an embodiment, knitted textiles, which may be more inherently stretchable and elastic than woven or nonwoven materials, may impart better fit, comfort and/or appearance to the shirt stay. Incorporation of fibers of spandex or other elastomer also may also enhance stretchability and elasticity, and thereby impart better fit, comfort and/or appearance to the shirt stay, than textiles not including such elastomeric fibers. Accordingly, the straps  1  and  6 , in another embodiment, are made of stretchable material such as material such as spandex (elastane), lycra, stretch vinyl, darlex, poly-stretch fabrics, rubbers (either vulcanized or un-vulcanized rubbers) and mixtures thereof. In some&#39;embodiments, it is desired that the straps  1  and  6  have some stretchability so that when a wearer performs a task such as bending over the shirt stay has some give, yet when the wearer returns town upright position, the shirt stay performs it function of maintaining the neat and tidy appearance of the wearer. 
       FIG. 2  shows two straps  1  and  6  that can be joined together to form a shirt stay showing a means of connecting second strap  6  to socks. Covering distant end  5  (shown in  FIG. 1  but not shown in  FIG. 2 ), is a covering  20  that adds strength to distant end  5 . This covering  20  can be made of any of a plurality of materials, such as leather, vinyl, nylon, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, or some other material that can cover distant end  5 . In one embodiment, strength is added to allow a connecting string, fabric, or other appropriate material  23  to connect second strap  6  to fabric  21  containing button hole  22  that can connect to two buttons appropriately spaced on a sock. Alternatively, strength is added to allow a connecting string or fabric  23  to connect second strap  6  to fabric  21  containing a male snap fastener button  22  allowing second strap  6  to be connected to a sock with two appropriately spaced female snap fastener buttons on a sock. Alternatively, the fabric  21  might contain a female snap fastener button  22  that is attached to two appropriately spaced male snap fastener buttons on a sock. 
     The connecting string, fabric, or other appropriate material  23  can be any of a variety of materials including rubber, plastic, string, hemp, leather, polyester, cotton, vinyl, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, or any other material that has appropriate strength (so that it does not break) that allow the attachment of second strap  6  with socks. It should also be understood that although  FIG. 2  shows an embodiment with button-holes and/or buttons (either snap buttons or regular buttons) it should be understood that other means of connecting second strap  6  to a sock are contemplated and therefore within the scope of the invention. Other means of connecting the sock to second strap  6  include suspender clips, a button and button hole, a hook and loop fastener, a snap fit device, a button snap and a latch and clasp. 
       FIG. 3  shows two straps that can be joined together to form a shirt stay with a means of joining the first strap  1  to the second strap. In this embodiment, female snap-fit  32  connects to male snap-fit  35 . Female snap-fit  32  contains an opening (not shown in figure) that allows the insertion of male snap-fit  35 . The prong end  33  at the top of prong  34  and prong  34  are made of a flexible material (such as a plastic) that flex in a direction perpendicular to arrows  31 . When male snap-fit  35  is moved in a direction indicated by arrows  31 , and prong  34  and prong end  33  contact female snap-fit  32 , the two outside prongs  34  and prong ends  33  are pushed inwards towards prong  37  allowing them to fit in the opening in female snap-fit  32 . Continuing in the direction of arrows  31  eventually allows prong ends  33  to proceed through two additional smaller openings (not shown in figure) opposite the opening alluded to earlier in female snap-fit  32 . Pushing prong ends  33  through these two additional smaller openings allow prong ends  33  to snap fit into space  36 , locking male snap-fit  35  into female, snap-fit  32 . To release male snap-fit  35  from female snap-fit, one merely has to depress prong ends  33  allowing male snap-fit to move in a direction opposite arrows  31 , which disconnects first strap  1  from the second strap. 
     Although  FIG. 3  is shown with a male snap-fit  35  that contains three prongs it should be understood that a snap fit can be used that is any number of prongs. For example, the snap fit may contain only two prongs. Generally, one would desire that the snap fit be of a material that is sufficiently strong to engage and disengage male snap-fit to the female snap-fit. Examples of materials that can be used include plastics (such as polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides, polyamides, bisphenol Apolymers, biodegradable plastics made from starches, copolymers, mixtures thereof, or some other polymer with sufficient structural strength), metals (such as aluminum, stainless steel, or other metals), wood, or some other material with sufficient structural strength so that the snap fit allows engagement and disengagement of male snap-fit and female snap-fit.  FIG. 3  is shown with a snap fit, but it should be understood that other means of connecting and disconnecting strap  1  from the second strap can be performed. For example, other ways of connecting the first and the second strap include a belt buckle, hook and loop fastener (i.e., VELCRO™), a latch and clasp, a button and button hole, slot or loop, a zipper, or a hook and loop. All of these are contemplated and therefore are within the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows two straps  1  and  6  that can be joined together to form a shirt stay with a means of attaching strap  1  to a shirt. In this embodiment, the means of joining a strap  1  to a shirt is by means of a tuxedo clip  45 . Front clasp  41  and back clasp  42  separate at the top of these clasps (while remaining closed at the bottom of these clasps using for example a hinge) so that a shirt can be inserted between the open clasps. Upon closing front clasp  41  and back clasp  42 , the shirt will remain tightly bound in between front clasp  41  and back clasp  42 . Adjuster  43  allows the strap  1  to be adjusted so that the strap can be any length, allowing the shirt stay to be worn by any of a plurality of wearers of different height. For taller wearers, additional strap length  44  will be larger and for shorter wearers additional strap length  44  will be smaller. Similarly, any other strap described herein may have an adjuster that allows, for different length shirt stays. In some embodiments, both the first strap  1  and the second strap  6  may contain an adjuster  43 . Thus, the shirt stay (the combination of straps  1  and  6 ) may be any length from smaller than or about 10 inches to longer than or about 50 inches. In some embodiment, the length is roughly, the length of the inseam of the wearer. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the straps may be made of an elastic type material which will allow a shirt to remain quite taut, yet at the same time allow the wearer the ability to undergo extension, flexion or some other movement without the shirt ever becoming loose (non-taut). 
     The tuxedo type clip  45  can be made of any type material such as the metals or plastics disclosed herein. Generally, tuxedo type clip  45  should have sufficient strength so that it serves its function of keeping the shirt taut yet at the same time being sufficiently robust so that it can be used a plurality of times. Other possible means of connecting the first strap  1  to the shirt are contemplated such as the means of attaching to the sock shown in  FIG. 2  (see  21 ,  22 , and  23 ). Other means of attaching strap  1  to the shirt include a belt buckle, hook and loop fastener (i.e., VELCRO™), a latch and clasp, a button&#39;and button hole, slot or loop, a zipper, or a hook and loop. 
     Although not shown, it should be understood that the tuxedo type clip  45  can be used at the distant end  5  of the second strap  6  in order to connect to a sock. In an embodiment, it should be understood that the sock will also remain up because the shirt stay is sufficiently taut so that the sock does not sag. 
       FIG. 5  shows two straps  1  and  6  that can be joined together to form a shirt stay with a means of keeping one strap connected to the ankle or foot. Loop  51  goes around wearer&#39;s ankle or foot (and does not connect to the sock) allowing the shirt stay to stay taut. On loop  51  is optional tightening means  53 , which allows the wearer to tighten loop  51  so that it fits snugly around the ankle or foot so that the loop  51  is not pulled up the leg by the straps. Also optionally, is adjuster  52 , which allows one to adjust the length of strap  1 . Although it is shown on strap  1 , it should be understood that it can be on the other strap  6  or alternatively, on neither or both straps  1  and  6 . Another&#39;optional feature is reinforcement  50 , which in an embodiment, is made of a material that adds strength to the strap containing loop  51 . In one embodiment, this material can be made of leather, plastic, nylon, or some other material that adds strength to the strap. In one embodiment, reinforcement  50  adds strength to the strap to withstand large forces put upon loop  51 . 
     It should be understood that each of the above figures are mere illustrations of various different embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that any of these above illustrated embodiments can be used with other embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the buttons of  FIG. 2  or the loop of  FIG. 5  can be used with the snap fit of  FIG. 3  and the tuxedo clip of  FIG. 4 . This will provide an embodiment that has a means of connecting the shirt stay to the shirt (e.g., the tuxedo clip) with a means of connecting or disconnecting the two straps of the shirt stay (e.g., the snap fit) yet with a means of attaching to the ankle or foot (e.g., the loop or the buttons). 
     Accordingly, in one embodiment, the shirt stay comprises two elongate straps, a first strap and a second strap, the first strap having a close end and a far end at opposite ends of the first strap and the second strap having a near end and a distant end at opposite ends of the second strap, wherein the shirt stay is designed so that the close end of the first strap attaches to a shirt of a wearer and the distant end of the second strap is attached to an ankle of the wearer, wherein the far end of the first strap is connectable to the near end of the second strap. 
     By “attached to the (an) ankle”, it is meant that the shirt stay attaches to a sock of a wearer or alternatively, there exists a means by which the distant end of the shirt stay remains at a location that is in close proximity to the ankle or foot of the wearer. 
     It is contemplated that one or more shirt stays can be used by a wearer. In one embodiment, two shirt stays may be worn by the wearer. Alternatively, three or four shirt stays may be worn. In one embodiment, the shirt stays may come in a package, box, or kit with any number of shirt stays present in the package, box, or kit. The additional shirt stays may be identical to the shirt stays of the present invention (e.g., a first strap is connectable to a second strap to generate the shirt stay) or alternatively, they may be shirt stays that do not have two straps with a means of being disconnected and/or reconnected. 
     In an embodiment, the far end of the first strap may be connected to the near end of the second strap by a snap fit, a belt buckle, hook and loop fastener (VELCRO), a latch and clasp, a button and button hole, slot or loop, a zipper, or a hook and loop. In one embodiment, the far end of the first strap is connected to the near end of the second strap by a snap fit. In one embodiment, a female part of the snap fit is connected to the first strap and a male part of the snap fit is connected to the second strap. 
     Alternatively, the female part is connected to the second strap and the male part is connected to the first strap. 
     In an embodiment, the total length of a first strap connected to a second strap is adjustable so that it can be anywhere between about 10 and 50 inches. Alternatively, it is between about 11 and 40 inches, alternatively it between about 15 and 35 inches, alternatively, it is between about 20 and 32 inches, alternatively, it is between about 25 and 32 inches. 
     In an embodiment, the elongate straps are made of a stretchable material. In one embodiment, the stretchable material comprises one or more materials such as spandex (elastane), lycra, stretch vinyl, darlex, poly-stretch fabrics, silk, cotton, rayon, or mixtures thereof. 
     In one embodiment, there exists a means of connecting the distant end of the second strap to a sock. In an alternate embodiment, there exists a means of connecting the distant end of the second strap so that it remains adjacent to the ankle or foot. In one embodiment, this means comprises a loop that optionally possesses an adjuster that allows one to adjust the size of the loop so that it will remain in a proximity adjacent to an ankle or foot even when a force is put on the strap. 
     In an embodiment, when the distant end of the second strap is attached to a sock, the one or more means comprises a suspender clip, a button and button hole, a hook and loop fastener (VELCRO), a snap fit, button snap or a latch and clasp. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the present invention can be used as a method of keeping a shirt taut or a method of keeping socks so they do not sag. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method of keeping a shirt taut, comprising using a shirt stay that comprises two elongate straps, a first strap and a second strap, the first strap having a close end and a far end at opposite ends of the first strap and the second strap having a near end and a distant end at opposite ends of the second strap, wherein the shirt stay is designed so that the close end of the first strap attaches to a shirt of a wearer and the distant end of the second strap is attached to an ankle or foot of the wearer, wherein the far end of the first strap is connectable to the near end of the second strap. 
     It should be understood that the shirt stay of the present invention can be used along the front of the leg or alternatively along the back of the leg, or alternatively along both the back and the front of the leg. In an embodiment, the shirt stay can be used for shirts other than dress shirts such as with t-shirts, polo shirts, tuxedo shirts, Cuban shirts, or other shirts that may be tucked inside trousers, slacks, or pants. In certain embodiments, the shirt stay(s) of the present invention may be used in theatrical plays, by musicians, or in other arts related productions where it is desired that a shirt may stay taut. In certain embodiments, the shirt stays may be used by mascots or by costume wearers or by other wearers that need a means of keeping a top taut. A non-exhaustive list of others who may use the shirt stay(s) of the present invention include waiters, military personnel, law enforcement officers, security workers or business men (and women). In all embodiments, the shirt stay may be used to keep a professional, clean look. 
     It is contemplated and therefore within the scope of the invention that any feature that is described herein can be combined with any other feature that is described. It is also contemplated and therefore within the scope of the present invention that any subset containing any number of members of any Markush group enumerated herein can be used. Accordingly, if a Markush group enumerated herein, recites a set of ten members, all subsets of this ten member group are contemplated (for example, a subset with any one member, any two members, any three members, etc. is contemplated). When a range is given, any sub-range within the given range is contemplated and therefore within the scope of the invention, even if the endpoints for those sub-ranges are not specifically enumerated. In any event, the invention is to be defined by the below claims.