Abstract:
Restraining devices for neck apparel, such as a necktie, for attaching an item of neck apparel in place on the shirt of a person wearing an item of neck apparel are provided, the shirt being of a type having a plurality of buttons spaced along its front. The restraining device comprises an elongate, flexible cord having a first button loop formed at a first end of the cord and a second button loop formed at a second end of the cord opposite the first end. The first and second button loops are adapted to releasably engage adjacent ones of the plurality of shirt buttons. In a further aspect, methods of securing a neck apparel device to a shirt are also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a removable necktie restraining device for retaining a necktie or other neck apparel item in a substantially centered, straight-down position. While the present invention will be shown and described herein primarily by way of reference to long, straight ties of a type worn with a folded down shirt collar, e.g., four-in-hand ties, it will be recognized that the present invention may also be used in conjunction with scarves or other articles of neck apparel. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In a first aspect, a neck apparel restraining device for attaching an item of neck apparel in place on the shirt of a person wearing an item of neck apparel is provided, the shirt being of a type having a plurality of buttons spaced along its front. The restraining device comprises an elongate, flexible cord having a first button loop formed at a first end of the cord and a second button loop formed at a second end of the cord opposite the first end. The first and second button loops are adapted to releasably engage adjacent ones of the plurality of shirt buttons. 
   In a second aspect, a method of securing a neck apparel item to a shirt having a plurality of spaced-apart button includes providing an item of neck apparel of a type having at least a portion to be worn in a centered position, the item of neck apparel further including a loop member defining an opening and placing a restraining device through the loop member, the restraining device comprising an elongate and flexible cord. A first button loop is formed at a first end of the cord, and a second button loop is formed at a second end of the elongate flexible cord opposite the first end. The first button loop is removably attached to a first button on the shirt, the first button being the most proximate button on the shirt to the first button loop. The second button loop is removably attaching the second button loop to a second button on the shirt, the second button being the most proximate button on the shirt to the second button. 
   In a third aspect, a necktie restraining device for attaching a necktie in place on the shirt of a person wearing a necktie, the shirt being of a type having a plurality of buttons spaced along its front, the necktie being of a type having a tie loop formed on an inward facing surface thereof. The restraining device comprises an elongate elastic cord, a first button loop formed at a first end of the cord, and a second button loop formed at a second end of the cord opposite the first end. The first and second button loops are adapted to releasably engage adjacent ones of the plurality of shirt buttons. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description of the invention herein, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the neckwear restraint device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the manner of attaching the neckwear retaining device of  FIG. 1  to a necktie. 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary view of a necktie with cutaway, showing a neck apparel restraint of the present invention attached to the necktie and shirt buttons. 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary side view of a neckwear restraint of the present invention attached to the necktie and adjacent shirt buttons. 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the button loops according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a necktie restraining device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like components throughout the several views, there appears in  FIGS. 1–5  a neck apparel restraining device  10  of the present invention. The neckwear restraining device  10  is particularly adapted for use with a necktie  12 , e.g., a so-called four-in-hand tie, although scarves or other neck wear items are contemplated as well. In the preferred embodiment, the necktie  12  is of the type including a wide tail  14 , a narrow tail  16 , and a loop member  18  secured to or otherwise formed on an inward facing surface  22  of the wide tail  14  to define an opening or passage  24 . 
   The loop member  18  may be, for example, a label or a cloth member which is generally sewn or otherwise fastened to the inward surface  22  the wide tail  14 . The narrow tail  16  of the necktie  12  may be passed through the opening  24  defined by the loop member  18 . In the depicted embodiment, the loop member  18  extends transversely with respect to the long axis of the necktie  12 , and may be secured to the necktie inward surface  22  at the transversely spaced apart ends  26  via stitching  28  or other means. Alternatively, the loop member  18  may form a complete loop of material sewn or otherwise attached to the inward surface  22  at a single, centrally located point. 
   The tie restraining device  10  is formed of an elongate, flexible cord  20 , most preferably an elastic, stretchable, and or resilient cord, and includes a main body portion  30  and first and second button loops  32  formed at opposite ends of the main body  30 . The button loops  32  define apertures or openings  34  which are sized and spaced to receive adjacent shirt buttons  40 . 
   The elastic cord forming the device  10  may be formed of one or more strands of an elastic material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, and may be covered with a cloth material, e.g., an elastic, stretchable, or woven cloth material, or the like. Advantageously, the elastic cord material may be of a type commonly employed in the manufacture of elastic bands for securing or retaining ponytails. The elastic cord may have a diameter of from about 1/16 inch to about ⅛ inch, although cords of other diameters may be employed. 
   The button loops  32  are formed by securing each of the ends  38  of the cord forming the article  10  to the main body  30  with a fastener  36 . The cord ends  38  are secured at a position to create the button openings  34  of appropriate dimension  44  to removably receive a shirt button  40  therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, the opening  34  has a dimension  44  of about 0.5 inches extending in the longitudinal direction of the article  10 , although other dimensions are contemplated. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 5 , each of the button loops  32  adapted to be removably secured to a shirt button may be made up of the first and second runs  33  and  35  of the elastic cord  20 , which are interconnected in side-by-side manner by the clamp or clasp  36 , for example, a metal band or clamp encircling the two runs  33  and  35  which may form a generally nonremovable attachment of the two runs by crimping or squeezing the fastener  36 . The run  35  terminates at end  38  at or near the fastener  36 . The run  33  continues through the fastener  36  and further includes an extension or trailing end  50 . The trailing end  50  of the first loop  32  is contiguous with the trailing end  50  of the second loop  32 , thereby defining main body portion  30  of the device  10 . 
   In the depicted embodiment, the fasteners  36  are depicted as metal clasps or clamps of a type which may be crimped to nonreleasably secure the cord ends  38  to the main body portion  30 . However, other types of fasteners may also be employed, including permanent adhesives, wire clamps, threads, strands or wires tightly wrapped around the cord ends  38  and the main body portion  30  to firmly secure the same, and the like. 
   The article  10  may be of any dimension  46 , and is preferably dimensioned to be equal to or, preferably, greater than a standard or typical uniform button spacing  48  commonly found on shirts. In certain embodiments, the article  10  has a dimension  46  which is about 0.5 to about 1.5 inches greater than the button spacing. Thus, for example, in the case of a typical uniform button spacing of about 3.25 to about 3.5 inches, a preferred dimension  46  may be about 3.75 to about 5 inches, most preferably about 4.25 inches. 
   In operation, the necktie restraining device  10  is passed through the opening  24 , as best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Buttons  40  are then passed through openings  34  defined by the button loops  32  to removably secure the device  10 . 
   As shown in greater detail in the fragmentary side view of  FIG. 4 , the neck apparel restraining device  10  is disposed vertically, generally in axial alignment with the necktie  12  and the row of buttons  40  of the shirt  42  of the wearer. The restraining device  10  slidably engages the loop member  18  which is attached to the rearward or inward facing surface  22  of the wide tail  14  of the of the necktie  12 . The narrow tail  16  of the necktie  12  is also received through the passage  24 . 
   Again, the apparel restraining device  10  includes two button loops  32  on opposite ends of the device for releasably engaging the restraining device with adjacent uniformly spaced apart shirt fastening buttons  40 . As stated above, it is preferable that the distance  46  be greater than the distance  48  between the buttonholes  40 . The sliding engagement between the loop member  18  and the main body portion  30  of the device  10  allows movement of the necktie  12  relative to the buttons  40  and device  10  in the long direction of the tie, i.e., the vertical direction in the orientation shown. Furthermore, the elasticity of the device  10  allows the device to stretch, thereby providing an additional range of motion or give when movements of the wearer so demand. Thus, even after the loop member  18  has reached an end of its range of travel with respect to the device  10 , the elasticity of the device  10  allows additional elongation of the device  10 , thereby providing additional comfort to the wearer while the tension of the elastic cord retains the tie in the desired centered and straight down position. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown an alternative a necktie restraining device  10 ′ of the present invention. The necktie restraining device  10 ′ includes an elastic cord  20  of a type described above forming a peripheral loop and having button loops  32   a  and  32   b  formed at opposite ends thereof and defining openings  34   a  and  34   b , respectively. The loops  32   a  and  32   b  are formed by fasteners  36   a  and  36   b , respectively, which are crimped or clamped onto the peripheral cord forming the device  10 ′, thereby defining a main body portion  30 ′ therebetween, with the fasteners  36   b  additionally securing the cord ends  38  and  39  together. 
   The loop  32   a  of the device  10 ′ includes first and second runs  33   a  and  35   a , respectively, of the elastic cord and which are nonremovably interconnected in side-by-side manner by the fasteners  36   a . The runs  33   a  and  35   a  pass through the end of the fastener  36   a  proximate the loop  32   a  and trailing ends  50   a  and  51  extend from the opposite end of the fastener  36   a.    
   The loop  32   b  of the device  10 ′ includes first and second runs  33   b  and  35   b , respectively, of the elastic cord and which are nonremovably interconnected in side-by-side manner by the fasteners  36   b . The run  33   b  terminates at end  38  within the fastener  36   b . The run  35   b  passes through the end of the fastener  36   b  proximate the loop  32   b  and trailing end  50   b  extends from the opposite end of the fastener  36  and is contiguous with the trailing end  50   a , thereby forming a first strand of the main body portion  30 ′. The trailing end  51  of the run  33   a  terminates at an end  39  which is brought into proximity with the end  38  to define a peripheral loop. The end  39  is nonremovably secured to both end  38  and run  35   b  via the fastener  36 . 
   The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. For example, it will be recognized that the neck apparel restraining device  10  of the present invention is not limited to neckties and/or neck apparel with permanently attached loop members  18  and the device  10  may be used with tie clips, scarf clips, or like device forming a passage through which the device  10  may pass prior to securing the device  10  to shirt buttons of the wearer. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.