Abstract:
An auxiliary shirt cuff which can be applied to virtually any type of shirt. It does not require any modification to the shirt. When applied, the cuff gives the appearance of a high-quality french cuff shirt. It can be applied to a shirt already having a french cuff, or to one having a conventional button cuff. Different fabrics and colors can be employed to make the cuff, thereby creating a pleasing and fashionable contrast with the fabric and color of the shirt to which the cuff is applied.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of clothing. More specifically, the invention comprises a removable shirt cuff which can be applied to shirts having french cuffs or the more common button cuffs. 
     2. Description of the Related Art. 
     Removable shirt cuffs were once more common than they are today. Back when the typical consumer could only afford a new shirt every year or so, it was practical to provide for replaceable cuffs so that a worn out cuff would not require the replacement of the entire shirt. U.S. Pat. No. 1,314,325 to Heeren (1919) discloses one such device. The shirt is modified with a special attaching flap. A series of stud buttons arrayed around the shirt sleeve&#39;s perimeter engaged a corresponding series of button holes in the cuff. The special attaching flap serves to conceal these studs, thereby giving the visual impression of a conventional cuff. The Heeren cuff can only be used with a specially-modified shirt. It cannot be used with a shirt already having a conventional cuff. 
     A different approach is taken in U.S. Pat. No. 1,319,851 to Daily (1919). Like the Heeren device, the Daily cuff uses a special flap attached to the shirt sleeve—though the flap is smaller. This flap slips through an elongated slot in the cuff, folding back on a securing button. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,326,514 to Ladd (1917) uses two large buttons on the shirt sleeve, and a series of smaller fasteners arrayed around the shirt sleeve&#39;s perimeter. It results in an unconventional appearance—at least by modern standards—since it leaves a portion of the shirt sleeve material protruding beyond the bottom of the cuff (see FIG.  1 ). 
     A detachable cuff also having an unusual appearance is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,349,987 to Strumph (1,349,987). This device uses an extra internal fold in the shirt sleeve to form a clevis joint. The edge of the detachable cuff which faces the sleeve then becomes the tang in the formation of a tang and clevis joint. A set of additional fasteners are disposed around the rear of the cuff to secure its perimeter to the shirt sleeve. 
     Another tang and clevis joint is employed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,413,897 to Calco (1922). In this variation, the clevis is formed in the rear edge of the cuff by making a second flap. The tang is actually the forward edge of the shirt sleeve. Three buttons or studs, arranged around the perimeter of the sleeve, are then employed to secure the cuff to the sleeve. A similar approach is taken in U.S. Pat. No. 1,645,833 to Torme (1924)—although without the use of the tang and clevis. 
     All these prior are devices result in a cuff being detachable from the shirt. However, they have inherent limitations in that: 
     1. All employ modified shirt sleeves, meaning that the cuff can only be used with a particularly suited shirt; 
     2. All employ at least three fastening points, making them cumbersome to apply; 
     3. None of the shirts disclosed may be used without the cuffs; 
     4. None of the cuffs can be applied to a shirt already having a cuff; and 
     5. Some of the cuffs give an unconventional appearance. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a removable auxiliary cuff which can be applied to virtually any type of shirt. It does not require any modification to the shirt. When in place, the cuff gives the appearance of a high-quality french cuff shirt. It can be applied to a shirt already having a french cuff or to one having a conventional button cuff. Different fabrics and colors can be employed to make the cuff, thereby creating a pleasing and fashionable contrast with the fabric and color of the shirt to which the cuff is applied. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view, showing the proposed invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view, showing the invention in a folded state. 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view, showing the invention just prior to application to a shirt sleeve. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view, showing the application of the invention to a french cuff shirt; 
     FIG. 4B is an isometric view, showing the application of the invention to a french cuff shirt from a different perspective; 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view, showing the application of the invention to a button cuff shirt; 
     FIG. 5B is an isometric view, showing the application of the invention to a button cuff shirt from a different perspective; and 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view, showing the invention as it appears when installed. 
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 
                 auxiliary shirt cuff 
                 12 
                 main body 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 cuff link flap 
                 16 
                 stiffener 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 cuff link hole 
                 20 
                 first fold 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 clevis flap 
                 24 
                 bevel 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 bevel flap 
                 28 
                 clevis gap 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 french cuff shirt 
                 32 
                 french cuff 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 leading edge 
                 36 
                 button cuff shirt 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 button cuff 
                 40 
                 button 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 button hole 
                 44 
                 cuff link 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 upper cuff region 
                 48 
                 descending cuff tab 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 descending tab 
                 52 
                 upper region 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 second fold 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows the present invention as it is being formed. Auxiliary shirt cuff  10  has main body  12 , which is a rectangular piece of flat fabric. Clevis flap  22  is joined to main body  12  along first fold  20 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that main body  12  and clevis flap  22  are easily made from one piece of fabric. 
     Clevis flap  22  is typically formed in the shape of a trapezoid. The two non-parallel sides have bevels  24 , so that the angle formed between first fold  20  and the two bevels  24  is approximately  45  degrees. Bevels  24  may optionally also feature bevel flaps  26 , which are folded flat clevis flap  22 . Bevel flaps  26  provide extra rigidity to bevels  24 . They are advantageous for certain thinner fabrics, but are often not needed. 
     The two short sides of main body  12  are formed into cuff link flaps  14 . These features provide reinforcement around cufflink holes  18 . It is also possible to insert stiffeners  16  into cuff link flaps  14 . These stiffeners—which are typically made of thin plastic—help keep the outer edges of cuff link flaps  14  rigid, which can give the folded cuff a neater appearance. Those skilled in the art will realize that cufflink flaps  14  and bevel flaps  26  can be easily sewn in place. 
     FIG. 2 shows auxiliary shirt cuff  10  with clevis flap  22  having been folded back against main body  12 . As all the components are made of thin and flexible fabric, it is common for auxiliary shirt cuff  10  to lay flat as shown. In this state, numerous versions of the invention can be stacked flat in a clothes drawer. 
     When the user desires to affix auxiliary shirt cuff  10  to a shirt, he or she folds auxiliary shirt cuff  10  as shown by the two arrows, with the fold generally being centered on second fold  54 . 
     FIG. 3 shows auxiliary shirt cuff  10  after the completion of second fold  54 . The reader will observe that second fold  54  is not sharp. Instead, second fold  54  creates upper cuff region  46 , having a generally arcuate shape, and two descending tabs  48 . Clevis flap  22  is also formed into a generally arcuate shape, with the distance between clevis flap  22  and main body  12  forming clevis gap  28 . Clevis gap  28 , of course, also has an arcuate shape. 
     The reader will observe that bevels  24  are seen in the non-parallel sides of clevis flap  22  (the version illustrated in FIG. 3 does not have bevel flaps  26  attached to bevels  24 ). Bevels  24  carry out an important function. Once the invention is formed into approximately the state shown in FIG. 3, the user must push auxiliary shirt cuff  10  onto a conventional shirt cuff by pushing the leading edge of the shirt cuff into clevis gap  28 . Frictional forces will obviously exist between the shirt cuff and the fabric of auxiliary shirt cuff  10 . Main body  12  will slide outside the perimeter of the conventional shirt cuff. Clevis flap  22  will slide inside the perimeter of the conventional shirt cuff. The use of bevels  24  means that only a percentage of the entire perimeter of clevis flap  22  need be initially introduced against the inner surface of the conventional shirt cuff. As auxiliary shirt cuff  10  is worked further and further onto the conventional shirt cuff, a greater and greater surface area of clevis flap  22  makes contact. This gradual introduction of surface contact aids in the installation of the device. While the device could function without bevels  24 , it would be significantly more difficult to install. Accordingly, the version having bevels  24  is the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 4 shows the installation of auxiliary shirt cuff  10  on french cuff shirt  30 . The reader will observe that french cuff shirt  30  has french cuff  32 , which comprises upper region  52 , two descending tabs  50 , and two cufflink holes  18 . Leading edge  34  has a generally arcuate shape near its top, and two essentially linear regions descending down descending tabs  50 . The user must install auxiliary shirt cuff  10  by aligning the two cufflink holes in auxiliary shirt cuff  10  with the two cufflink holes in french cuff  34 . 
     FIG. 4B shows the installation from another perspective. The reader will observe that as auxiliary shirt cuff  10  is pressed onto french cuff  32 , leading edge  34  will slide into clevis gap  28 . Once leading edge  34  is placed firmly within clevis gap  28 , all four cuff link holes  18  are aligned and a cuff link is placed through the holes to lock the assembly in place. The completed assembly then takes on the appearance depicted in FIG. 6, with auxiliary shirt cuff  10  being held in place by cufflink  44 . Once secured in place, an observer cannot discern the fact that auxiliary shirt cuff  10  is not an integral part of the shirt. 
     FIG. 5 shows the installation of auxiliary shirt cuff  10  on button cuff shirt  36 . Button cuff shirt  36  has button cuff  38 , which comprises upper region  52 , two descending tabs  50 , button hole  42 , and button  40 . Leading edge  34  has a generally arcuate shape near its top, and two essentially linear regions descending down descending tabs  50 . Prior to installation, it is important that the user pull the descending tab  50  having button hole  42  down below the descending tab  50  having button  40 —as shown. 
     FIG. 5B shows the installation from another perspective. The reader will observe that as auxiliary shirt cuff  10  is pressed onto button cuff  38 , leading edge  34  will slide into clevis gap  28 . Once leading edge  34  is placed firmly within clevis gap  28 , the two cuff link holes  18  are aligned with button hole  42  and a cufflink is placed through the holes to lock the assembly in place. The completed assembly then takes on the appearance depicted in FIG. 6, with auxiliary shirt cuff  10  being held in place by cufflink  44 . As with the previously described installation on a french cuff shirt, an observer cannot discern the fact that auxiliary shirt cuff  10  is not an integral part of the shirt. 
     The use of auxiliary shirt cuff  10  allows many practical and stylistic advantages. These include the following: 
     1. A worn out or stained cuff can be covered, thereby saving an otherwise ruined shirt; 
     2. Different colors and patterns can be used in manufacturing auxiliary shirt cuff  10 , allowing a user to express his or her own personal style; and 
     3. A button cuff shirt can be temporarily converted into a french cuff shirt, without destroying its utility as a button cuff shirt. 
     Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.