Means for Preventing the Collar, Shirt, and Cravat from becoming Soiled.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means for Preventing the Collar, Shirt, and Cravat from becoming
Soiled.
I, ARTHUR FRANKLIN LANGDON, of 274 Main Street, Hartford, in the County
of Hartford and State of Connecticut, United States of America, Flour Broker,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to the class of protectors that are worn by individuals
about the neck to prevent the collar, shirt, and cravat from becoming soiled-and
its object is to provide a simple, cheap and effective article of this class.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from
which my protector is made. Figure 2 is a plan view of the completed article,
with part broken away. Figure 3 is a view of the protector bent as around the
neck of a person and laid down to cover up the collar. Figure 4 is a sectional
view on plane denoted by the broken line X- X.
The letter A denotes the band of the protector, which is cut, preferably from a
soft textile fabric, of a shape and length that will easily encircle the neck of a
person. In practicing my invention the lower edge of this band is usually
stiffened, and this is accomplished by turning back a portion upon itself and
stitching down the edge to form a pocket and inserting in this pocket a wile or
thin strip, B, of metal, celluloid, whalebone, or the like flexible material.
To the edge of the band A is attached the apron C, which apron is usually
integral with the band and cut out of the same piece at the same time the latter
is formed. The apron is somewhat longer and wider than the band and the
middle is hollowed out, for the purposes hereinafter mentioned.
My article is more especially intended to be used by travellers and by persons
who are engaged in occupations where dust and smut are liable to collect on and
discolor the wearing apparel, particularly the collar, cravat, and shirt bosom, which
are easily soiled. Any one can prevent the soiling of the above articles by inserting
the band of one of my protectors around the neck between the collar and the
skin and pulling down the apron over the outside of the coat collar, which it
also protects.

page_text: If the band is stiffened, as before described, the tendency to spring outward of
the stiffening material retains the article in place, and at the same time holds the
band away from the neck of the wearer and prevents the heating and choking of
the same.
The back of the apron is hollowed out, so that it will fit smoothly
around the coat collar, and the widened ends are provided to completely cover the
necktie and the front of the shirt that may be exposed. When it is desired to
prevent these ends from accidently opening, one of them is provided with a bution and
the other with a corresponding hole, so that they may be buttoned together across
the breast of the wearer, and the ends of the band may also have a fastening
device, preferably one end having a T-shaped tongue and the other a T-shaped
socket struck out in the making-but these are not essential to my invention.
My article is cheap and easily placed in position for use and removed when not
required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
1. The herein described garment protector, consisting, essentially, of the neck
band portion A, constructed to embrace the neck of the wearer inside of the
ordinary collar, and provided with a spring constructed to encircle the neck, the
said spring having a normal form nearer straight than the curve of the neck,
whereby the band is pressed from the neck of the wearer, and the apron portion,
constructed to fold over the ordinary collar, substantially as set forth.
2. The herein described garment protector, consisting, essentially, of the neck-
band portion with its spring, the said spring having a normal form nearer straight
than the curve of the neck, whereby the band is pressed away from the neck of
the wearer, and the apron portion projecting at each end beyond the band portion
and forming flaps to over-lap the necktie and shirt-front, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 19th day of March, 1888.
ARTHUR FRANKLIN LANGDON.