Abstract:
A neck tie knot shaping frame is disclosed. The frame is formed with interconnecting round members with an open back allowing the fabric of the tie to form over and pass through the frame. The frame alters the shape of the knot from shapes ranging from ball or egg shape to square, triangular or other shapes. The frame provides for a variety of different appearances for the knot of the tie. The frame is installed entirely within the knot portion of the tie allowing it to alter the width, length and appearance of the tie knot.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to improvements in shaping the knot on a tie. More particularly, the present tie shaper is a frame structure that is tied within the knot of a persons neck tie. The frame alters the shape of the knot from shapes ranging from ball or egg shape to square, triangular or other shapes. The frame is formed with interconnecting round members with an open back allowing the fabric of the tie to form over and pass though the frame. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    At one time or another most men and some women wear a neck tie. A typical neck tie is wrapped around the neck of the user and tied in front of the user in a Windsor, half Windsor, overhand, four-in-hand or a Pratt Knot-Shelby knot. In each of these knots the bulk of the knot leaves an exposed triangular shaped section of fabric. Several patents have been issued that provide inserts for shaping or performing the tie into the aforementioned triangular shape and other patents have been issued that provide for covers or protectors of the tied knot. Still other patents have been issued that do not require a knot in the tie and simply simulate a knot. Exemplary examples of the patents disclosing these embodiments are disclosed herein. 
         [0003]    Examples of patents covering neck tie knot protectors are found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,316,002 issued on Apr. 6, 1943 to O. G. Koivisto and U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,593 issued on Apr. 30, 1991 to Carl T. Stevens Jr. While these patents disclose neck tying products, they are for use covering the knot of a tie and do not alter the shape of the knot itself. They further surround the knot and are not placed within the knot and allow fabric from the tie to pass through the open frame of the device. They are formed from a flat shape and are not constructed in a cage or mesh type configuration. 
         [0004]    Examples of patents covering neck tie knot simulators are found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,898,600 issued Aug. 11, 1959 to A. W. Lipes et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,825,955 issued Jul. 30, 1974 to Herbert W. Penzel and U.S. Pat. No. 3,755,821 issued Sep. 4, 1973 to Frank A. Tllone. While these patents show and describe pins, hourglass forms and clips, they are not for integration within the knot of a neck tie. The only shape they provide to a neck tie is a typical triangular taper. They further bind through the tie or require clipping onto the collar of a shirt to remain in position. 
         [0005]    Examples of patents covering neck tie knot pre-formers are found in U.S. Pat. No. 1,149,800 issued Aug. 10, 1915 to W. F. Walker, U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,600 issued Aug. 22, 1967 to H. Kanter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,539 issued Jul. 6, 1982 to John Najarian and U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,507 issued Dec. 15, 1992 to Langford et al. While these patents provide for some shaping of a tie, they only provide for the shape of a conventional triangular shaped knot. In some disclosures the fabric of the tie is drawn through and or around the former, but in all cases no knot is disclosed since the former creates the shape of the knot. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a simple open structure where the fabric of a neck tie is brought through and around the structure and the structure alters the appearance of the knot to a shape that is cosmetically different from a traditional triangular knot. The proposed tie shaping frame provides this function with a simple open frame that is used with a conventional neck tie that is tied in a conventional manner. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of the tie shaping frame to provide a frame structure that is placed within the knot of a neck tie and the frame alters the appearance of the knot. The altered appearance makes the knot of the tie appear in a variety of shapes including but not limited to round, diamond, pyramid, square and rectangular. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the tie shaping frame for the frame to be a cage type construction with interconnecting round shaped components. The cage allows the tie material to easily conform around the shape. The cage has the appearance of a mesh and when the tie material is sufficiently thin the surface of the cage is visible through the knot. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the tie shaping frame for the frame to be fabricated out of material such as plastics, or metals. The frame material being made from a rigid yet flexible material such as plastic allows the frame to be slightly distorted to slide the frame within the neck tie knot. The use of metals for the frame provides similar distorting characteristics of plastic, and also allow for bending the metal beyond the yield point of the material and creating a different shape. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the tie shaping frame for the frame to be fabricated from an injection molding or casting operation. These operations provide a cost effective fabrication method where the frames are quickly and repeatedly manufactured in high quantities. Another fabrication is with a frame manually constructed from gluing, soldering or welding pieces of metal, or other material. This provides for one-of-a-kind frames without the expense of tooling that is expensive to alter. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the tie shaping frame to provide the frame with an open frame angle. The open frame angle allows the fabric of the tie to be slid though the open portion of the tie without the need to have an available free end of the tie. 
         [0012]    It is still another object of the tie shaping frame to provide a frame with an open top and or bottom portion to allow for the fabric of the tie to pass though the open area(s) allowing the top and or bottom of the fabric of the tie to appear in a natural condition. 
         [0013]    Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a pyramid embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of a pyramid embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of a pyramid embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows a front view of a pyramid embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows an isometric view of a diamond embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  shows a top view of a diamond embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of a diamond embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  shows a front view of a diamond embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  shows an isometric view of a round embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  shows a top view of a round embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of a round embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  shows a front view of a round embodiment of the tie shaping frame. 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  shows the shape of a neck tie with the diamond tie shaping frame installed within the tie. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIGS. 1-4  show the tie shaping frame  10  in a pyramid or triangular configuration with  FIG. 1  showing an isometric view,  FIG. 2  showing a top view,  FIG. 3  showing a side view and  FIG. 4  showing a front view. The pyramid shaped frame  10  shown in this figure is installable in either orientation within the knot of a neck tie where the wide area is placed on the top or bottom when installed. The configuration is fabricated from an injection molded process. The injection molded process is a preferred method of manufacturing because it provides a cost effective method of producing the parts, it is highly repeatable, and a large number of parts can be manufactured. Other methods of producing the part are also contemplated including but not limited to casting, lost wax, and assembly from individual pieces. 
         [0028]    In the preferred embodiment the material for making the tie shaping frame is plastic. This material is preferred because it offers a cost effective material that is readily available. Plastics are available in a variety of types and colors to satisfy the requirements for both maintaining the shape of the tie forming frame and flexible enough that it can be slightly distorted for placement within the knot of a neck tie. Other materials are contemplated that provide similar or alternative properties including but not limited to rubbers, silicones, metals, glass, wood and recycled materials such as paper. 
         [0029]    The preferred construction is with essentially round member connected with intersecting pieces. A plurality of vertical members  20 - 24  are arranged with a plurality of horizontal pieces  30 - 34 . The top of the frame  40  allows for the two ends of the tie that go around the person&#39;s neck. The bottom opening in the frame  50  provides for the end portions of the tie to exit. The bulk of the knot of the tie exists inside the open central portion of the frame. The outer exposed portion of the knot of the tie exists on the outside of the frame. The tie conforms to the shape of the cage of the frame. A visual appearance of the finished appearance of a frame is shown and described in more detail with  FIG. 13 . The overall size and shape of the frame is variable based upon the material and bulk of the tie. It is also contemplated that the size is variable based upon the desire of the user to exenterate the appearance of the frame. In a contemplated embodiment a neck tie is fabricated in sufficient width to accommodate the frame. 
         [0030]    The frame is open in the back to allow the knot of the tie to be more easily placed though the open back. The open back further provides the advantage of not requiring an end of the tie to be placed through the frame. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 5-8  show the tie shaping frame  11  in a diamond configuration with  FIG. 1  showing an isometric view,  FIG. 2  showing a top view,  FIG. 3  showing a side view and  FIG. 4  showing a front view. This is an alternate embodiment of the frame where the shape is larger in the middle rather than on the ends as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . The back of this frame is open in a similar configuration to the previously identified configuration. The top  40  of the frame allows clearance for the ends of the tie that encircle the user&#39;s neck. The bottom  50  is also open to allow for the free ends of the tie. Five essentially round vertical members  60 - 64  form the vertical parts of the frame while three horizontal members  70 - 72  provide the horizontal part of the frame. The middle horizontal member  71  and the middle vertical member  62  extent the furthest from the back of the frame structure. This shape is essentially symmetric, and when installed in either orientation the resulting appearance is essentially the same. While two extremes of geometric shapes from  FIGS. 1-4  and  FIGS. 5-8  have been shown, other shapes between these two shapes are contemplated including but not limited to square, rectangular, pentagonal, octagonal and others. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 9-12  show the tie shaping frame  12  in a sphere configuration with  FIG. 1  showing an isometric view,  FIG. 2  showing a top view,  FIG. 3  showing a side view and  FIG. 4  showing a front view. This frame provides a more rounded appearance to the frame and then the tie that is wrapped around the frame. This shape is not a “perfect” sphere in shape and has more of an appearance of the elongated barrel. The elongated shape allows for more room for placement of the knot within the frame. While a symmetric shape is shown the shape could appear more like an egg, or the shape could appear more as a flattened sphere. The top  40  of the frame allows clearance for the ends of the tie that encircle the user&#39;s neck. The bottom  50  is also open to allow for the free ends of the tie. Four vertical members  80 - 83  form the vertical part of the frame and intersect with five horizontal frame members  90 - 94 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 13  shows the shape of a neck tie with the diamond tie shaping frame  11  installed within the tie. The shirt  110  is shown for reference and is constructed in a typical manner with a collar having lapels  111  and  112 . The tie wraps around the collar  101  and  102  with the knot  103  shown in front of the shirt where the shirt is buttoned  100 . The ends of the tie extend out of the knot and frame and extend down the front of the shirt  104 . In installation either the tie is tied around the frame or after the tie is tied, the know is loosened and the frame is inserted up or down into the knot where the bulk of the knot is placed within the open portion of the frame and the front fabric of the tie wraps over the front of the frame where it shows the shape of the frame placed within. 
         [0034]    In all configurations shown and contemplated the back of the frame is an open or closable configuration. In the open configuration the open angle is between 135 and 359 degrees, and more preferably between 160 and 225 degrees. Prototypes have been made with an open angle of approximately 180 degrees. 
         [0035]    In other contemplated embodiments the frame is constructed in a solid shape or a solid shape with holes to lighten the weight. In still another contemplated embodiment the frame has letters, numbers or initials embossed on the frame, and when the tie covers the frame the letter, numbers or initials are at least partially shown through the fabric of the tie. 
         [0036]    Thus, specific embodiments of a tie shaping frame have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.