Patent Abstract:
The present invention is a replacement fabric loop for a necktie. The replacement fabric loop includes an elongated transverse member having anchor sections located on opposing ends of the transverse member. Each anchor section has a non-marring adhesive on the bottom side of the anchor section. The anchor sections are attached on to the backside of the main section of a necktie. The tail section of the necktie may then be restrained under the transverse member. The replacement fabric loop may be positioned anywhere on the necktie to accommodate neckties of various lengths. The replacement fabric loop may be reusable, disposable, and temporary.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to clothing accessories. Specifically, the present invention relates to a detachable replacement fabric loop for a necktie.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     The use of neckties with formal or business apparel is quite common. One of the most popular types of necktie worn by men is the “four-in-hand” necktie. A conventional four-in-hand necktie is tied about the neck with a knot at a shirt collar and generally has an outward facing main section passing down the shirt to conceal shirt buttons. In addition, a somewhat narrower tail section hangs down from the knot and is concealed by the outward facing section. It is quite common that a fabric loop is affixed to the inward side of the main section of the necktie. Typically, the tail section is inserted through the fabric loop to restraint the tail and allows the main section and tail section to hang as a unit. However, after frequent use of the necktie, it is common for the fabric loop to become unstitched on one end or tear off and become inadvertently removed from the tie. In addition, in many instances, the tail section is not long enough to fit within the fabric loop. A replacement fabric loop, which is attachable anywhere on the tie, is needed.  
         [0005]     Although there are no known prior art teachings of an apparatus such as that disclosed herein, prior art references that discuss subject matter that bears some relation to matters discussed herein are U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,579 to Swain (Swain), U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,836 to Jacobson (Jacobson), and U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2004/0133964 to Rudenko (Rudenko).  
         [0006]     Swain discloses a tie restraint apparatus for holding a tie tail portion of a four-in-hand necktie at the front portion of a shirt. The tie tail is an elongated end portion of a necktie and includes a transversely extending fabric strip secured at spaced apart distances to a back surface of the tail portion. The tie restraint apparatus includes an elongated plastic strip having an opening at each spaced apart location for support by attachment to spaced apart buttons on the front portion of the shirt. However, Swain does not teach or suggest a detachable replacement fabric loop for restraining the tail section of the tie.  
         [0007]     Jacobson discloses an apparatus for anchoring a tie to a wearer&#39;s shirt. The apparatus includes two parallel rails attached to the back of a tie, which provide support for a horizontal collar with a slot. The horizontal collar is configured to travel along the vertical rails. An elongated member is adapted for vertical movement inside the slot of the horizontal collar. However, Jacobson does not teach or suggest a detachable replacement fabric loop for restraining the tail section of a tie.  
         [0008]     Rudenko also discloses a retaining device for a necktie. The device includes a clip attached to a fabric loop. The tie is attached to a strap of the shirt by the clip, thereby restraining the tie against the shirt. However, Rudenko does not teach or suggest a detachable replacement fabric loop for restraining the tail section of a tie.  
         [0009]     The existing devices all include mechanisms for restraining the entire tie against a shirt. None of the existing devices shows a detachable fabric loop for restraining the tail of the tie against the main section of the tie. A mechanism is needed which provides a temporary or permanent replacement for a fabric loop which may be attachable and positioned anywhere on the tie.  
         [0010]     Thus, it would be a distinct advantage to have a replacement fabric loop which is attached to the tie for restraining the tail of the tie against the main section of the tie. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     In one aspect, the present invention is a replacement fabric loop attachable to a necktie. The replacement fabric loop includes an elongated transverse member having two opposing ends. An anchor section is located on each end. In addition, each anchor section has an attachment section allowing attachment of the anchor section to a surface. Each anchor section is attached to the necktie. A tail section of the necktie is then inserted under the transverse member to restraint the tail section of the necktie.  
         [0012]     In another aspect, the present invention is a replacement fabric loop for attachment to a necktie having a main section and a tail section. The replacement fabric loop includes an elongated transverse member having two ends. Anchor sections are located on each end. Each anchor section has a non-marring adhesive substance on a bottom side of the anchor section allowing attachment and detachment from a surface. Each anchor section is attached to a backside of the main section of the necktie. The tail section of the necktie is then inserted under the transverse member to restraint the tail section. The replacement fabric loop may be constructed of any flexible material such as a cloth or paper-based material.  
         [0013]     In still another aspect, the present invention is a replacement fabric loop and necktie combination. The combination includes a necktie having a main section and a tail section. The replacement fabric loop includes an elongated transverse member having two ends. An anchor section is located on each end. Each anchor section has a non-marring adhesive substance on a bottom side of the anchor section allowing attachment and detachment to the necktie. Each anchor section is attached to a backside of the main section of the necktie. The tail section of the necktie is inserted under the transverse member to restraint the tail section. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  (prior art) is a partial front perspective view of a conventional necktie attached to a shirt;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged plan view of a replacement fabric loop in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged bottom view of the replacement fabric loop of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a partial front perspective view of the necktie having an attached replacement fabric loop in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged rear view of the main section of the necktie with the replacement fabric loop; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a cutting die diagram having a plurality of replacement fabric loops. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     A replacement fabric loop which is attached to a necktie is disclosed.  FIG. 1  is a partial front perspective view of a conventional necktie  10  attached to a shirt  12 . The necktie is wrapped around a shirt collar  14  and held against the front portion  16  of the collar by a knot  18 . The necktie includes a front facing main section  20  and a tail section  22  held within a fabric loop  24 . The main section conceals the tail section and shirt buttons  26  from view. To allow the necktie to hang as a unit, the tail section is restrained against the main section by inserting the tail into the fabric loop. The fabric loop is typically sewn upon a rear surface  28  of the main section. As discussed above, it is quite common for the fabric loop to become unstitched at one end or torn off from the main section, leaving an unsightly free hanging tail section. In addition, when the necktie is tied into a knot, the tail is often not long enough to be inserted into the original fabric loop. In both cases, the tail is allowed to hang freely, which is very undesirable for the fashion conscious individual.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged plan view of a replacement fabric loop  30  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The replacement fabric loop preferably includes a transverse member  32 . On each end of the transverse member are anchor sections  34  and  36 . The replacement fabric loop may be constructed of any flexible material, such as a paper-based, plastic, or fabric material. For a paper-based material, the material is preferably similar to paper currency. Paper currency is constructed of a “linen” paper, which allows flexibility while also adding strength to the product. For a cloth-type material, a lightweight cloth such as used with a conventional fabric loop is preferred.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged bottom view of the replacement fabric loop  30  of  FIG. 2 . The anchor sections  34  and  36  include an attachment portion  40  located on a bottom surface  42  of the replacement fabric loop, allowing attachment of the replacement fabric loop to another surface. The attachment portion is preferably a non-marring adhesive substance, such as used in “yellow sticky notes” or adhesive bandages. The attachment portion is preferably located on a single side of the replacement fabric loop, specifically the bottom surface of the replacement fabric loop. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the attachment portions may be hook and loop strips or any substance allowing the attachment of the replacement fabric loop to the rear surface  28  of the main section  20 . Preferably, the attachment portions allow the temporary attachment and detachment of the replacement fabric loop from a necktie without damaging the necktie.  
         [0023]     The replacement fabric loop  30  may be any size or shape. However, to accommodate most conventional ties, replacement fabric loop should be of a size allowing the tail section  22  to be inserted under the transverse section  32  without difficulty. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the entire replacement fabric loop is approximately 2.25 inches long with the transverse member being at least 1.5 inches long and at least ¼ inch in width. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the replacement fabric loop may be any shape or size allowing the tail section to be inserted under the transverse section. In addition, the replacement fabric loop may be manufactured in a variety of colors.  
         [0024]     The replacement fabric loop  30  may be stored in an overlapping stacked configuration. Thus, the replacement fabric loops may be stacked one on top of another, allowing simple storage and easy retrieval by a user. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the replacement fabric loops are stacked in batches of five in a similar fashion as the “yellow sticky notes,” whereby the attachment portion adheres the top replacement fabric loop to an adjacent underlying replacement fabric loop. Alternatively, the replacement fabric loop may be available in a rolled configuration similar to masking tape or a sheet of several replacement fabric loops. The replacement fabric loops may be detachable from the rolled configuration or sheet as desired by a user. Additionally, the replacement fabric loops may be stored with a removable non-sticking backing similar to the backing found on adhesive bandages.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a partial front perspective view of the necktie  10  having an attached replacement fabric loop  30  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is an enlarged rear view of the main section  20  of the necktie with the replacement fabric loop. The replacement fabric loop may be positioned anywhere on the rear surface  28  of the main section  20  of the necktie. The bottom surface  42  of the replacement fabric loop is positioned against the rear surface  28  of the main section  20  of the necktie. The attachment portion  40  is thus affixed to the rear surface  28 , thereby holding the replacement fabric loop in position on the rear surface of the main section. The replacement fabric loop may be attached and detached as desired by the user.  
         [0026]     With reference to  FIGS. 2-5 , the use of the replacement fabric loop  30  will now be explained. Oftentimes, the conventional fabric loop  24  becomes unstitched at one end or is torn or inadvertently removed from the rear surface of the main section  28  of the necktie. At other times, when the necktie is tied about the neck of the user, the tail section is not long enough to be inserted under the original fixed fabric loop. As desired by the user, the replacement fabric loop is positioned on the rear surface of the main section. The replacement fabric loop may be placed anywhere along the length of the tail section to allow the tail section to fit under the replacement fabric loop. The bottom surface  42  of the replacement fabric loop is positioned against the rear surface. The attachment portion, located on the anchor sections  34  and  36  allows the attachment portion  40  of the replacement fabric loop on the main section of the necktie. However, since the transverse member  32  does not have any adhesive, the tail section may be freely inserted under the transverse member. Once the replacement fabric loop  30  is attached to the main section, the tail section may be inserted under the transverse member, thereby restraining the tail section under the main section of the tie. As desired, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attachment portion may provide a temporary non-marring adhesive property. The replacement fabric loop may thus be removed from the main section without damaging the necktie.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a cutting die diagram  44  having a plurality of replacement fabric loops  30 . To facilitate the manufacture of the replacement fabric loops in the most economical manner, the cutting die diagram of  FIG. 6  may be utilized. As shown, thirteen replacement fabric loops are arranged upon a 6-inch by 2-inch cut sheet. Such a cutting die diagram minimizes waste. However, it should be understood that any manufacturing process or cutting diagram may be used to manufacture the replacement fabric loops.  
         [0028]     The present invention provides many advantages over the existing fabric loops. The present invention enables the user to place the replacement fabric as desired on the main section of the tie, thereby allowing the tail section to be held in place without regard to the length of the tail section. In addition, the present invention provides a cost-effective apparatus for replacing, either temporarily or permanently, the original fabric loop of a necktie. In addition, the replacement fabric loop may be reused as necessary. Because of the low cost of the present invention, the replacement fabric loops may be disposed as desired by the user. The present invention may be manufactured very inexpensively and stored in a simple and efficient manner.  
         [0029]     While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present invention would be of significant utility.  
         [0030]     Thus, the present invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment for a particular application. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the present teachings will recognize additional modifications, applications and embodiments within the scope thereof.  
         [0031]     It is therefore intended by the appended claims to cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0