Patent Publication Number: US-5253370-A

Title: Dual purpose adjustable base for mounting prefolded &#34;pocket silk&#34; hankerchiefs

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     (1) Field of Invention 
     The invention is a component of a gentleman&#39;s fashion accessory, specifically a pocket silk handkerchief frequently worn by well dressed gentlemen in the breast pocket of their suit or jacket. Such a handkerchief is generally utilized more for decorative than functional purposes. As a decoration, it generally matches the necktie pattern, or accents the principal color within the pattern. The purpose of the base which is the subject of this invention is to accommodate a pre-folded, stylish, three dimensional simulated pocket silk handkerchief so that it may be maintained at a point just below the opening of the breast pocket. While the width of the breast pocket of a gentleman&#39;s suit or jacket is standardized at 31/2&#34;, the depth of the breast pocket is not and varies over a range of 11/4&#34; from approximately 4&#34; to 51/4&#34;. Accordingly, the invention is designed to support a handkerchief in a range of elevated positions while maintaining continuous, variable rigidity. Since it is also common practice for gentlemen to carry business cards, the base is built to form a pocket within to serve as a business card holder. This business card pocket is designed to expand as the length of the base is increased, and to utilize the business cards themselves as the necessary source of additional rigid support. The design of the pre-folded simulated pocket silk handkerchief is not itself the subject of this invention. 
     (2) Description of Prior Art 
     There have been numerous previous attempts to resolve the problem outlined. In a prior patent Schuchman, Sr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,446-1978 discloses a bulky device consisting of two individual component parts, one component of which has a decorative handkerchief permanently affixed to each vertical end. These ornamental handkerchiefs, being of two distinct colors, can be alternately displayed by separating the components and inverting the component having the decorative handkerchief to display the desired color i.e., blue on one end, red on the other or some other color combination, so the user may readily decide which color to display. The decorative component is then attached to a single rigid component that remains concealed in the pocket of the jacket to provide the required support. The two items are attached by means of two opposing vertical hook and loop fastening or VELCRO strips sewn one to each component. The height of visible component is varied by varying the quantum of VELCRO up or down used to secure it to the second rigid component that remains hidden in the breast pocket. This design display has several drawbacks in that the decorative handkerchief is necessarily two dimensional and lacking in style. More importantly the adjustment itself is unwieldy to make. The two separate components must both be removed from the pocket, matched and rematched in a trial and error fashion in order to obtain the desired results. 
     Other prior art involved the use of complex series of fasteners to adjust for breast pocket depth. The components of all prior designs failed to meet a simple unibody adjustable format that is decorative, functional, simple to adjust, lightweight and attractive. My invention is designed to easily slide in and out of the breast pocket for purposes of accessing its contents without diminishing or detracting from the fashion statement which the three dimensional, pre-folded, pocket handkerchief is intended to fulfill for the wearer. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The invention is a business card holder built into a base which also serves as an adjustable support for a simulated pocket silk handkerchief (as shown in FIGS 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B). The base is flat, and creates no bulges in the jacket pocket. It is easily accessible and yet securely placed. The 4&#34; long Upper Section of the base is not completely rectangular, but is flared out gradually towards the top from a point 2&#34; below to a width slightly less than the standard 31/2&#34; breast pocket width found in virtually all gentlemen&#39;s suits and jackets. The slight curvature resulting allows the base to slide easily in and out of the user&#39;s pocket. It also ensures that the width at the top, where it is ultimately stitched to a simulated pocket handkerchief, is of appropriate dimension to support a full-bodied, three dimensional fashionably folded handkerchief. 
     The invention as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, consists of essentially rectangular sections of decorative vinyl leatherette material each approximately 21/4&#39; wide (reference numbers 3 and 6) that are permanently joined along their vertical edges by sewing at the area indicated at (10). The Upper Section (11) is not completely rectangular as stated above. The leatherette front (3) on the Upper Section (11) is mounted on a thin piece of rigid material (2) such as chipboard by known methods such as adhesives or sewing along the vertical edges. 
     The rear surface of the chipboard (2) is covered by known methods i.e., sewing and/or adhesive with loop fastener material (4) such as the material sold under the trademark VELCRO. Before the loop fastener material (4) is fully attached to the upper area of the chipboard (2) a decorative pre-folded pocket silk handkerchief (13) is placed between the layers (4) and (2) and is attached by sewing. Under the lower edge of the loop material, between the loop material (4) and the rigid material (2) and extending out in a downward direction is sewn an additional 11/2&#34; long piece of fabric (5) such as taffeta. The Lower Section (12) of the base has a 5&#34; long leatherette front (6a) which has a rear surface covered with a taffeta lining (6b) by known methods. The Lower Section is completely pliable since it does not contain a rigid material as found in the Upper Section. Along the width of the lower edge of the Lower Section and the fabric (taffeta) surface is sewn an approximately 1/2&#34; high piece of hook fastening material(7). 
     The pliable lower section (12) is superimposed at (14) over the Upper Section approximately 11/2&#34; above the junction of the taffeta strip to form the top opening of the pocket. The sections (11 and 12) and the material layers 6a, 6b, 5, 3, 2 and 4 are joined by stitching along the vertical edges including those of the 11/2&#34; (taffeta) fabric piece previously added to the lower edge of the Upper Section which is also sewn horizontally across the back of the Lower Section forming a pocket with a total depth of 3&#34;, 11/2&#34; above the rigid minimum depth, and 11/2&#34; below within the pliable section. The two sections are thus joined into a base of unibody construction which may now be folded back upon itself to adjust for overall depth by taking the hook VELCRO tip at the bottom edge of the Lower Section and securing it at any elevation along the loop VELCRO back of the Upper Section. 
     As the height of the VELCRO connection point is lowered, the overall length of the unibody base is increased and the depth of the business card pocket is incrementally available up to its full limit. By placing the business cards deeper into the expanded pocket additional rigidity is provided to maintain complete rigidity at any desired elevation. The product is thus simply adjusted to conform to any given breast pocket depth of a gentleman&#39;s suit in which it is placed. 
     Prior art has addressed itself to both of the functions described but has always had to use two separable and distinct pieces to accomplish the goal, and has never utilized the contents of one function, i.e., the business cards within the pocket, to resolve the design problem in the second function of maintaining rigidity of the base over a plurality of elevated positions. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts the invention in place within the pocket of a suit. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B represent the front view of the invention at minimum and maximum depth. The differing area below the horizontal line (14) in these two figures represents the limits in depth variation of the business card pocket. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views of FIGS. 2A and 2B. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B are fully extended side views of FIGS. 3A and 3B before the base is folded back onto itself to adjust its depth prior to insertion into the breast pocket of a suit or jacket. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B are shown as expanded drawings identifying all components. 
     FIG. 5A is a front view of FIG. 4B, the line 1 shown indicates the folding point for maximum length of the base corresponding to the length of FIG. 2B and/or 3B. FIG. 5B is a rear view of FIG. 5A identifying the key component parts which make possible the continuously adjustable depth. 
    
    
     SUMMARY 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention are adequately addressed above. As indicated, the invention is intended to be utilized with a pre-folded, simulated pocket silk handkerchief sewn into its upper edge. The design of the pre-folded handkerchief is not per se the subject of this invention, but rather represents one of the two purposes for which the base is designed, the first being to support the handkerchief, the second to serve as a business card holder.