Abstract:
A buckle type accessory attachment piece in conjunction with straps which may wrap around the neck and enable wearer to create a plurality of clothing or accessory pieces from a piece of fabric, scarf or sarong is disclosed. Scarf tying system accessory is comprised of the attachment piece which has openings to insert scarf, fabric or sarong and slit openings to insert strap and the set of straps sized to insert into the slit openings in the attachment piece.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent application 61/375,936, filed on Aug. 23, 2010 by Meeka Ann Cook, entitled Scarf Tying System Accessory. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a fashion accessory which enables the wearer to create a variety of choices for wearing a scarf, fabric or sarong. Scarves are a well known accessory of apparel. For as long as women have been wearing scarves, they have been perplexed about the best way to wear them. One problem women face when tying scarves is how to avoid bulky knots. Another problem they often face is how to avoid the knots slipping out and the scarf falling off or away from the area of their body which it has been tied to. The versatility of scarves can be improved with a method and system which enables the wearer to utilize scarves in a plurality of ways which include, not only as an accessory but as articles of clothing as well. 
         [0004]    2. Discussions of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Scarf rings and scarf buckles are a well known accessory item. These objects are generally single ring or double hole buckle rings in which a scarf can be attached to. In general, scarves are wrapped around the neck and inserted into these rings to create a certain look and keep the scarf together. These rings are limited in scope and use and offer no support to keep the scarf attached to the body should a woman choose to wear a scarf, fabric or sarong as an article of clothing. The present invention is an attachment piece with openings for fabric or scarves and also openings for attaching straps which can be securely wrapped around the neck. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a type of buckle accessory attachment piece is in conjunction with straps which wrap around the neck and enable wearer to create a plurality of clothing or accessory pieces from a piece of fabric, scarf or sarong; comprising in combination, the attachment piece which may have two openings to insert scarf, fabric or sarong and may have two slit openings to insert strap, and the set of straps sized to insert into the slit openings in attachment piece which may be secured with some type of closure. 
         [0007]    In one aspect wherein the openings for scarf may be circular in design or any shape at all that fabric or a scarf or sarong can be inserted. In one aspect wherein the attachment piece may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood, leather, fabric, metal, ceramic, resin, shell, aluminum, silver or any other equivalent means. In one aspect wherein the attachment piece may be formed into the shape of a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, or any equivalent shape. In one aspect wherein the straps may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of: fabric, plastic, elastic, leather, string, beading, vinyl, wire or rubber or any other equivalent means. In one aspect wherein the straps may be embellished with materials selected from the group consisting of: beading, sequin, button, rhinestones, gemstones, chains, zippers, embroidery or any other equivalent means. In one aspect wherein the straps may be adjustable with gasper or any other equivalent means or may also be non-adjustable. In one aspect wherein the straps may be permanently affixed to attachment piece or removable by means of Velcro, buttons, snaps, magnets or any other equivalent means. In further detail, another aspect is the method of using an attachment piece with openings in conjunction with straps to create a plurality of clothing pieces and accessory items from a fabric, scarf or sarong. Another possible embodiment of present invention does not limit its scope to a fashion accessory only for women, but can be expanded to an accessory item for pets such as dogs and cats. In another further aspect present invention can be modified to doll size and packaged as accessory item for dolls. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the complete set of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a close up view of the complete set  FIG. 1  and shows how strap is connected to the attachment piece; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a close up view of the adjustable section of the strap of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a close up view of how strap may connect to the attachment piece of present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a back view of how strap may connect to the attachment piece of present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a separate view of only the strap section of present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a separate view of only the strap section with open view of Velcro closure of present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  shows some examples of types of attachment piece shapes that attach to strap  2  of present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is an example of method of execution of present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is an example of demonstration of method of execution of present invention using square scarf or piece of fabric; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is an example of demonstration of method of execution of present invention using rectangular scarf or piece of fabric; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is another example of demonstration of method of execution of present invention using rectangular scarf of piece of fabric and two attachment pieces; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  shows more examples of types of attachment piece shapes that attach to strap  2  of present invention 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  shows an example of present invention modification for animals. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  shows an example of present invention modification for dolls. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  there is shown the strap  2  which may be connected to the attachment piece  4  by inserting Velcro strap  10  (Velcro closure is just one example of closure options) into opening  12  at top of the attachment piece  4 . At top side of attachment piece  4  there are two openings  12  for each side of strap using Velcro  10  to insert. In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3  is a view of adjustable section  8  that user may utilize for sizing. In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  we see opening  6  which may be used to insert scarf. In further detail of  FIG. 1  total length of strap  2  may be any length but preferably 20-26 inches with straps open and adjustable section at maximum length. Attachment piece  4  may be any diameter or measurement but may be between 2-3 inches diameter for more comfort in wearing. 
         [0024]    The construction details of present invention as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6  and  7  may consist of but are not limited to the following details. The component feature strap  2  of present invention may be made of, but not limited to any fabric, plastic, elastic, leather, string, beading, vinyl, wire or rubber. Strap  2  may be made without embellishment or may be beaded or decorated with any type of beading, sequin, button, rhinestone, gemstone, chains, embroidery, zippers or any notion at all that can be applied as permanent or detachable to any of above mentioned or not mentioned materials for strap. 
         [0025]    In further detail as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , Velcro strap  10  may used as such for attaching strap to attachment piece  4  or may be changed to a button, snap, loop, magnet, glue, or any type of closure that will be sufficient to attach strap  2  to attachment piece  4 . Velcro strap  10  may also be changed to a permanent closure of strap  2  to attachment piece  4 . Such a permanent closure is not preferable as present invention has more versatility of use if strap  2  can be removed easily from attachment piece  4 . 
         [0026]    In further detail as shown in  FIG. 3  preferably strap may be adjustable, but need not be. The means of making the strap adjustable may be with gasper  9  as shown in  FIG. 3 , but may also be made adjustable by tying, stretching, elastic or any other such materials or methods which will allow strap  2  to be adjustable. Strap  2  may also be made without the adjustment feature. 
         [0027]    In further detail  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 8   c  shows a variety of shapes and styles of attachment piece  4 . However, the component of present invention named attachment piece  4  may be made from, but not limited to; resin, plastic, wood, leather, fabric, metal, silver, gold, aluminum, shell or ceramic. The shape of attachment piece  4  may also be circular, square, rectangular, triangular, or octagonal or any shape not listed here.  FIG. 8  shows a larger size attachment piece which can utilize a larger scarf, fabric or sarong.  FIG. 8   a  shows the standard size attachment piece.  FIG. 8   b  shows attachment piece with larger openings to accommodate a larger section of scarf, fabric, or sarong.  FIG. 8   c  shows an example of smaller size of attachment ring. 
         [0028]    It may comprise symbols such as, but not limited to peace signs, spirals, moons or otherwise. Attachment piece  4  may also be made in the shape of objects such as, but not limited to turtles, seahorse, fish, heads of animals or any other such object.  FIG. 13  shows more examples of attachment piece shapes that may be utilized to connect with strap  4  of present invention.  FIG. 13  shows shapes  28 ,  30 ,  32  and  34  and still show opening  12  for the strap and opening  6  for scarf. 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  shows two examples of the execution of present invention. Woman  20  may wear scarf  22  by putting strap  2  with attachment piece  4  connected around her neck. Once strap  2  and attachment piece  4  are in place, scarf  22  may be pulled through opening  6 . Scarf  22  may then be pulled into place and tied in back. 
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows one explanation of execution of present invention using a square scarf  22  which is folded into triangular shape  24 . Strap  2  with attachment piece  4  connected may be placed around neck. Once strap  2  and attachment piece  4  are in place, top section of triangular shape  24  of scarf  22  may be pulled through opening  6 . Right and Left corner of scarf  22  may then be pulled in back and tied. 
         [0031]      FIG. 11  shows one explanation of execution of present invention using a square scarf  22  in a squared off position. Strap  2  with attachment piece  4  connected may be placed around neck. Once strap  2  and attachment piece  4  are in place, corners of square scarf  22  may each be pulled separately into openings  6  and pulled through. Then bottom two corners can be tied in back. 
         [0032]      FIG. 12  shows one explanation of execution of present invention using a rectangular scarf  26 . Strap  2  with attachment piece  12  connected may be placed around neck. Once strap  2  and attachment piece  12  are in place, scarf  26  may be pulled through opening  6  and tied in front. 
         [0033]      FIG. 13  shows four examples of different shapes of attachment piece.  FIG. 13  shows a heart shaped attachment piece  30  octagonal shape attachment piece  28 , rectangular shape attachment piece  34  and turtle shaped attachment piece  32 , which are all included in the embodiment of present invention. 
         [0034]      FIG. 14  shows dog  36  with bandana scarf  42  with modified attachment piece  4  and straps  2  for a modification of present invention as an accessory for dogs or cats or other small animal. 
         [0035]      FIG. 14  shows doll  38  with miniature scarf or fabric  40  with modified attachment piece and strap  2  for a modification of present invention to a doll accessory 
         [0036]    In further detail of present invention,  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  11  and  12  are only examples of execution of present invention. Any size scarf, fabric, sarong or material may be used with present invention to create any number of styles. 
         [0037]    In further detail of present invention is the system of putting together a number of buckle type attachment pieces with a number of straps or similar devices to create a method of modifying any scarf, fabric or sarong into a plurality of articles of clothing or accessories. 
         [0038]    In further detail of present invention as partially demonstrated in  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  is the method of tying scarves, fabric or sarongs into a plurality of articles of clothing or accessories. 
         [0039]    In further expansion of possibility of present invention is that present invention may be for use not just for women. Present invention can be modified in size for children. Present invention can be modified in size for dogs or cats or any animal. Present invention can be modified in size for dolls. The descriptions herein provide the preferred embodiment of present invention, but should not be construed as limiting the scope of use. 
         [0040]    Of course, all the various aspects of embodiment shown in diagrams may be mixed and matched as desired. The essence of embodiment of present invention is that all aspects are interchangeable and versatile and the scope of us of present invention is open to a plurality of variations.